THE 



HISTORY OF FRANCE 



FROM THE 



FOUNDATION OF THE MONARCHY, 

TO THE 

DEATH OF LOUIS XVI. 

INTERSPERSED WITH ENTERTAINING ANECDOTES, AND 
BIOGRAPHIES OF EMINENT MEN. 









BY WILLIAM^GRIMSHAW,^^' 2 -^ 

AUTHOR OF " A HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, &C.'' 



44 Vel pace, vel bello, clarum fieri licet : et qui fecere, et qui facta aliorura scripacre, 

multi laudantur." 



p&Uatrelpfjta: 



PUBLISHED BY TOWAR & HOGAN, No. 255 MARKET STREET, 

AND SOLD BY ALL THE BOOKSELLERS IN THE U. STATES. 

STEREOTYPED BY L. JOHNSON. 

1829. 



Eastern District of Pennsylvania, to wit : 

BE IT REMEMBERED, That on thethirdday of June, in the fifty-third year of the 
Independence of the United States of America, A. D. 1829, WILLIAM GRIMSHAW, 
of the said District, has deposited in this office the title of a book, the light whereof he 
claims as author, in the words following, to wit : — 

" The History of France, from the Foundation of the Monarchy, to the Death of Louis 
XVI. Interspersed w ith entertaining anecdotes, and biographies of eminent men. By 
William Grimshaw, Author of "A History of the United States, &c." "Velpace, vel 
bello, clarum fieri licet: et qui fecere, et qui facta aliorum scripsere, multi laudantur." 

In conformity to the Act of the Congress of the United States, entitled, " An Act for 
the Encouragement of Learning, by securing the Copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to 
the Authors and Proprietors of such Copies, during the times therein mentioned:" — And 
also to the Act, entitled, "An Act supplementary to an Act, entitled, "An Act for 
the Encouragement of Learning, by securing the Copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to 
the Authors" and Proprietors of such Copies during the times therein mentioned," and 
extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical 
and other prints." 

D. CALDWELL, 
Clerk of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. 



■tfS62 X 



INDEX. 



A. 

Abderamme, 22. 

Abelard, 70. 

Academie Frangaise, 211. 

Acre, siege of, 74, 75, 96. 

Agincourt, battle of, 128, 129, 130. 

Aix-la-Chapelle, treaty of, 218, 241. 

Alaric, 13, 14, 15. 

Albigenses, 73, 90, 91. 

Almanza, battle of, 226. 

Alva, duke of, 173, 190. 

Anastasius, 16. 

Ancre, marquis of, 204, 205. 

Anselm, gen. 296. 

Arnay-le-Duc, battle of, 184. 

Arnold, 42, 43. 

Artillery, 108. 

Ascalon, battle of, 75. 

Assignats, 276. 

B. 

Bailly, m. 261, 270. 

Barrere, 299. 

Bastile, destruction of, 271, 272. 

Bayard, chevalier, 159, 162, 165. 

Belgae, 11. 

Belleisle, capture of, 245. 

Berry, d. of, 247. 

Berwick, d. of, 226, 232. 

Bib 1 ., 121. 

Black Prince, 106, 107, 108, 109, 

110, 115, 116, 119, 120,121. 
Blenheim, battle of, 225, 226. 
Blondel, 76, 77. 
Boileau, 231. 
Bollmann, Dr. 288, 289, 290, 291, 

292. 
Borgia, Caesar, 159. 
Boumers, marshal, 223, 225. 
Bouille, marquis of, 254, 278. 
Boyne, battle of, 2'23. 
Braddock, gen. 242, 243. 
Brandon, Charles, 161, 162. 
Brissot, in. 283, 298, 299. 
A 2 



Brittanny, countess of, 105, 106. 
Broglio, marshal, 272, 273. 
Brunehaud, 19, 20. 
Brunswick, d. of, 285, 296. 
Buckingham, d. of, 207, 208, 209. 
BufFon, m. 261. 
Byng, adm. 243. 

C 

Calais, siege of, 108, 109, 110, 111. 
Calonne, m. de, 261, 262, 263,264, 

265. 
Calvin, John, 174, 175. 
Cambaceres, 299. 
Camus, 295, 298. 
Canada, capture of, 246. 
Canal of Languedoc, 217. 
Cape Breton, capture of, 241, 245. 
Capet, Hugh, 48, 49, 50. 
Carloman I. 23, 27, 28, 40. 
Carloman, II. 41. 
Castrees, marq. de, 262. 
Catherine of Medicis, 171, 181, 182, 

184, 185, 191. 
Cerizoles, battle of, 170. 
Charibert, 18, 20. 
Charlemagne, 27, 28 29, 30, 31, 32, 

33 34 49. 
Charles the Bald, 35, 39, 40, 49. 
Charles the Fat, 41, 42. 
Charles Martel, 21, 22, 23, 49. 
Charles the Simple, 42, 43, 44, 45, 

49. 
Charles IV, 102. 
Charles V. 118. 
Charles VI. 124, 125, 126, 131, 132, 

133 134 135. 
Charles VII. 135, 136, 143, 144. 
Charles VIII. 151, 153, 154, 155, 

156, 157, 158. 
Charles V. the emperor, 163, 164, 

165, 167, 168, 169, 170, 172, 173, 
Charles IX. 177, 180, 181, 184, 185, 

186, 187,188,189. 



INDEX. 



Chartres, d. of, afterwards Egalite 

the younger, 250. 
Chevalier St. George, See Pretender. 
Childebert, 17, 18, 21. 
Childeric, 11, 21. 
Childeric, II. 26. 
Chilperic, 18, 19. 
Chivalry, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 

66. 
Choiseul, d. of, 251. 
Clairfait, gen. 296. 
Claviere, M. 280, 283, 286. 
Clery, M. 287, 300. 
Clock, striking, 32, 123, 124. 
Clodion, 11. 
Clodoalde, 18. 
Clodomir, 17. 
Clodomir, 17, 18. 
ClotaireJI. 17, 18, 19,20, 
Clotaire, III. 21. 
Clovis, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16. 
Clovis, 21. 
Colbert, 217, 221. 
Collot d'Herbois, 295, 298. 
Constituent Assembly, 279. 
Closter-Seven, convention of, 244. 
Clotilda, 13, 14. 
Coligni, adm. 176, 178, 179, 181, 

182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187. 
Coligni, the younger, 194 
Cologna, family of, 98, 162. 
Columbus, 157. 
Combat, trial by, 95. 
Commines, Philip de, 148. 
Con flans, m. de 246. 
Conchini, 204. 
Conde, p. of, 176, 177, 178, 179, 181, 

182, 183. 
Conde p. of, the younger, 183, 184, 

187, 189, 191, 200, 201, 205. 
Conde, p. of the great, 213, 214, 

216, 219, 220. 
Condorcet, 261, 283, 298. 
Conflans, m. de 246. 
Constable, title of, 33. 
Contades, marshal de, 245. 
Conti, p. of, 194, 214. 
Cordeliers, 90. 
Corderius, 175. 
Corneille, 231. 
Cornwallis, marquis, 256, 257,258 



Corsica, 247, 248. 
Coucy, Ralph de, 75. 
Crecy, battle of, 106, 107, 108, 150 
Crillon, d. de, 254, 257. 
Crown point, siege of, 245. 
Crusades, 56, 57, 58, 70, 92,93,94,96 
Cullodon Moor, battle of, 241. 
Custine, gem. 296. 

D. 

Dagobert, 20. 

Dainville, marshal, 189, 190. 

D'Alembert, 261. 

Damiens, Francis, 243, 244. 

D'Angouleme, duchess, 302. 

Daniel, Arnaud, 83, 84. 

Danton, M. 283, 286, 294, 299. 

D'Artois, count, 247, 266, 273, 302. 

Dauphin, 112. 

De Brienne, M. 265. 

De Grasse, count de, 256, 258. 

Delphin classics, 230. 

Dendermonde, siege of, 240. 

De Retz, card. 206, 214. 

De Ruyter, adm. 219, 221. 

Deseze, M. 299, 300. 

Desiderius, 29. 

Dettingen, battle of, 236. 

De Witt, Cornelius, 220. 

De Witt, John, 219, 220. 

Diderot, m. 261. 

Dieskaw, gen. 243. 

Dillon, marshal, 282. 

Doria, Anthony, 107. 

Droit d' aubaine, 276. 

Drouet, m. de, 278. 

Dubois, cardinal, 233. 

Dumorier, gen. 280, 281, 283, 295, 

296,297. 
Du Quesne, fort, 242. 
Du Quesne, marquis of, 246. 

E. 

Edgeworth, Rev. M. 301. 
Egalite, M. See d. of Orleans. 
Elizabeth, princess, 284, 286. 
Eudes, 41, 42. 
Eugene, prince, 224, 226. 

F. 

Fabre, 299. 

Family Compact, 245, 254. 



INDEX. 



Fastolfe, sir Charles, 135. 
Faustus, John, 150, 151. 
Fayette, marquis de la, 252, 255 

272, 273, 274, 275, 282, 283, 284 

287, 288, 289, 290, 291, 292, 295 

302. 
Feast of the Ass, 59. 
Flag, national, 277. 
Fleury, cardinal, 233, 234, 235. 
Fleury, m. Joli de, 257, 261. 
Fontainbleau, palace of, 217; treaty 

of, 246. 
Fontenoy, battle of, 237, 238, 239 
Fornova, battle of, 156. 
Francis I. 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 

167, 168, 169, 170, 171. 
Francis, II. 175, 176, 177. 
Franklin, Benj. 252. 
Franks, 11, 12. 
Fredegonda, 19. 
Frederick the Great, 234, 235, 236, 

240, 241, 246. 
Friends of the People, 270. 
Froissard, 121. 

G. 

Gabelle, 112. 

Galigni, Leonora, 204, 205, 206. 
Gallisoniere, marquis, 243. 
Gama, Vasca de, 157. 
Ganganelli, pope, 250. 
Garniere, M. 280. 
Gauls, 11, 12,13. 
Gemappe, battle of, 297. 
Gerard, m. 254. 
Gibraltar, siege of, 254. 
Godefroy of Bouillon, 57, 58. 
Godemar, 17. 
Gondebald, 13, 17. 
Gondebaud, 19. 
Gondegisile, 13. 
Gontran, 18, 19. 
Gourdan, Bertrand de, 78. 
Grammont, d. de, 238. 
Grasse, count de, 256. 
Gray, lady Jane, 162. 
Grimoald, 21. 

Guesclin, Bernard du, 118, 119. 
Guichen, adm. de, 255. 
Guillotine, M. 281. 
Guise, duke of, 171, 172, 173, 175, 
173, 179, 186, 191. 



Guise, d. of, the younger, 194, 199. 
Guy of Lusignan, 74. 

H. 

Harfleur, siege of, 127. 

Harold, 54, 55. 

Haroun Al Rashid, 32. 

Hastings, battle of, 55. 

Henry I. 53. 

Henry II. 171, 173, 174. 

Henry III. 189, 190, 191, 192. 

Henry IV. 182, 183, 184, 185, 187, 
190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 
197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 202, 203. 

Huger, Francis K. 290, 291, 292. 

Hugh the Great, 44, 47. 

Hugh Capet, 48, 49, 50. 

Hugonots, 174, 176, 177, 178, 179, 
180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 
187, 188, 189, 190, 208, 210, 222. 

I. 

Jacobins, 270, 280, 283, 284. 
Jarnac, battle of, 182, 183. 
Jerusalem, siege of, 57, 58. 
India, trade to, 203. 
John, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 121. 
Joinville, Sieur, 93, 95. 
Jour, William de la, 87. 
Jury, trial by, 276. 

K. 

Kellermann, gen. 296. 
Koster, Laurentius, 150. 

L. 

Lacepede,M.280. 

Lacoste, M. 280. 

La Fontaine, 231. 

Landen, battle of, 223. 

La Perouse, 259. 

Lamballe, princess de, 294, 295. 

Lasource, M. 298. 

Launay, marquis de, 271, 272. 

Law, John, 233. 

Le Brun, 286. 

Le Dain, Oliver, 147, 152, 153. 

Legendre, M. 299. 

Legislative Assembly, 279. 

Library Royal, 121. 



Vlll 



INDEX. 



Lorges, count de, 272. 

Lothaire, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 47, 48. 

Louisburg, capture of, 245. 

Louis the Debonnaire, 34, 35, 36. 

Louis the Stammerer, 41. 

Louis III. 41. 

Louis IV. 43, 44. 

Louis V. 45, 46, 47, 49. 

Louis VI. 67, 68, 69. 

Louis VII. 70, 71, 72. 

Louis VIII. 90. 

Louis IX. 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 98. 

Louis X. 101. 

Louis XL 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 

149, 150. 
Louis XII. 158, 159, 160, 161. 
Louis XIII. 203, 204, 205, 206, 208, 

209,210,211,212. 
Louis XIV. 212, 214, 215, 216, 217, 

218, 219, 220, 221, 222, 223, 224, 

225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230, 242, 

268, 273. 
Louis XV. 232, 234, 235, 236, 237, 

238, 241, 242, 243, 244, 245, 246, 

247, 248. 
Louis XVI. 249,250,251,252,253, 

255, 257, 260, 262, 263, 265, 266, 

267, 268, 269, 275, 276, 277, 278, 

279, 282, 283, 284, 285, 286, 287, 

298, 299, 300, 302. 
Louis XVII. 301. 
Louis XVIII. 301. 
Louvre, palace of, 217. 
Luckner, marshal, 282. 
Luther, Martin, 168. 
Luxembourg, d. of, 219, 223. 

M. 

Main tenon, madame de, 221, 225. 
Malesherbes, M. 249, 299, 300. 
Manny,sir Walter, 106,109,110,111. 
Maria Antoinette, 248, 275, 277. 

278, 279, 301. 
Marignano, battle of, 163. 
Marlborough, d. of, 225, 226, 228 
Marat, 294, 299. 
Marot, 230, 231. 
Marquis, origin of the title, 30. 
Martel, Charles, 21, 22, 23. 
Mary, q. of Scots, 174, 175. 
Mauntisier, d. of, 230. 



Maurepas, count de, 249. 
Mayors of the Palace, 20. 
Mazarin, cardinal, 211, 212, 213, 

214, 215. 216. 
Medicis, Cath. of, 171, 177, 181, 

182, 185, 186, 191. 
Meroveus, 11. 
Minden, battle of, 245. 
Minorca, capture of, 243, 257. 
Mirabeau, count, 265, 277, 287. 
Moleire, 231. 
Monge, M. 286. 
Montaigne, 230, 231. 
Montcalm, marquis de, 245. 
Montcolour, battle of, 183. 
Montecuculli, 220. 
Montesquieu, 261. 
Montmorenci, constable, 166, 169, 

171, 179, 181, 194. 
Montmorenci, the younger, 190, 

194,211. 
Munster, treaty of, 213. 

N. 

Namur, siege of, 223. 

Nantz, edict of, 198, 208, 222, 276. 

National Assembly, 269, 270, 271, 

279, 298. 
National Convention, 298. 
National Guards, 273* 
Navy, 120. 
Necker, James, 251, 257, 261, 262, 

267, 268, 271, 275,'276, 287 
Niagara, siege of fort, 245. 
Nimeguen, 221. 
Noailles, m. de, 236, 238. 
Notables, 264, 265. 

O. 

Orange, p. of, 219, 220, 221, 222, 

223, 225. 
Organ, 32. 
Orleans, d. of, afterwards Egalite, 

250, 267, 268, 275, 300. 
Ormond, d. of, 228. 
Oudenarde, siege of, 239. 

P. 

Paine, Thomas, 283. 

Painting, 122. 

Pandects of Justinian, 66. 



INDEX. 



IX 



Paoh, gen. 247, 248. 
Paper, manufactory of, 123. 
Paris, becomes the capital of 

France, 16. 
Parliaments, 97, 100. 
Pastoret, M. 280. 
Pavia, battle of, 166. 
Pepin d'Heristal, 21. 
Pepin the Short, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 

49. 
Peronne, 145. 
Peter the Hermit, 56, 57. 
Peter the Great, 233. 
Petion, M. 285, 286, 298, 299. 
Pharamond, 11. 
Philip I. 54, 56, 58. 
Philip II. 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 

79, 80, 81. 
Philip III. 96. 
Philip IV. 96, 97, 98, 100. 
Philip V. 101, 102. 
Philip VI. 103, 104, 105, 107, 108, 

112. 
Pius VI, 250, 281, 282. 
Plessis-Les-Tours, 148. 
Pondicherry, 245. 
Pont-Neuf, 203. 
Portsmouth, duchess of, 218. 
Post-offices, 193. 
Poictiers, battle of, 115, 116, 130. 
Pragmatic Sanction, 95. 
Pretender, 225, 240, 241. 
Printing, 150, 151. 
Protestants, 168. 

Provence, count of, 247, 279, 302. 
Pyrennees, treaty of the, 216. 

Q. 

Quebec, founded, 203; siege of, 

245, 246. 
Querouaille, mad'lle, 218. 
Quinault, 231. 

R. 

Rabelais, 230, 231. 

Racine, 231. 

Radstadt, treaty of, 228. 

Ramillies, battle of, 226. 

Ratisbon, treaty of, 221. 

Ravaillac, Francis, 201, 202, 204. 

Raynal, 261. 



Revolution, commencement of, 270. 
Richard Cceur de Lion, 63, 74, 75, 

76, 77, 78. 
Richelieu, cardinal, 205, 206, 207. 

208,209,210,211. 
Richelieu, d. of, 243, 244, 245. 
Rights of Man, 274. 
Robert the Strong, 42. 
Robert Capet, 51, 52. 
Robespierre, Maximilian, 294, 299. 
Rochambeau, count de, 255, 256. 
Rochambeau, gen. 282. ■ 
Rodney, adm. 258. 
Rodolph, 44, 45. 
Rohan, d. of, 205, 210. 
Roland, 31. 

Roland, M. 280, 281, 283, 286. 
Rollo, 43, 45. 
Rousseau, 261. 
Rudel, GeofFry, 82, 83. 
Ryswick, peace of, 223. 



Saladin, 74, 75, 76. 

Salique Law, 24, 102. 

Sans-Culottes, 281. 

Santerre, M. 300. 

Saracens, 22. 

Sartine, m. 262. 

Savannah, siege of, 254. 

Saxe, marsh. 236, 237, 238, 239. 

Schoeffer, Peter, 150. 

Serfs, 68, 69. 

Servan, M. 283, 286. 

Sieyes, abbe, 274. 

Sigebert, 19. 

Sigebert, II. 18, 21. 

Sigesmond, 17. 

Silk, 203. 

Soissons, battle of, 16. 

Sorbonne, college of the, 95, 96. 

States- General, 267, 268, 269. 

St. Bartholomew, massacre of, 

186, 187, 188. 
St. Bernard, 70, 71. 
St. Cloud, 18. 
St. Dennis, abbey of, 20. 
St. Germain, count de, 251. 
St. Just, M. 299. 

St. Pierre, Eustace, 109, 110, 111. 
St. Simon, marquis de, 256. 



INDEX. 



Sully, d. of, 195, 197, 198, 199, 200, 

204. 
Syagrius, 16. 



Tallard, marshal, 225, 226. 
Talleyrand de Perigord, 274. 
Templars Knights, 58, 99, 100. 
Tern ay, chev. de, 255. 
Thoedebald, 21. 
Theodebert, 18. 
Theoderic, 15. 
Thierry, 16, 17, 18, 21, 26. 
Thomas a Becket, 71, 72. 
Thou, M. de,211. 
Ticonderoga, siege of, 245. 
Tiers Etat, 68, 97, 100, 267, 268. 

270. 
Tournay, siege of, 237, 239. 
Tourville, adm. 223. 
Transtamara, count of, 118. 
Triple League, 218. 
Tronchet, M. 299, 300. 
Troubadours, 81, 82. 
Truguet, admiral, 296. 
Tuilleries, built, 217; attacked, 285. 
Turenne, marshal, 214, 215, 216. 

218, 219, 220, 225. 
Turgot, m. 250, 251. 



U. 

United States, independence of, 

252, 260. 
Utrecht, treaty of, 228. 



Valence, gen. 297. 
Vauban, 219. 

Vaudreuil, marq. of, 258, 259. 
Vergennes, count de, 249, 260. 
Versailles, palace of, 217. 
Vidal, Peter, 87, 88. 
Villars, marshal, 225,' 228. 
Villeroy, marshal, 223, 224, 226. 
Visigoths, 12, 13, 14, 15. 
Voltaire, 261. 

W. 

Washington, gen. 243, 252, 255, 

256, 272, 293. 
William I. duke of Normandy, 45, 

46. 
William the Conqueror, 53, 54, 55, 

56. 
Wolsey, cardinal, 165, 167. 

Y. 

Yorktown, capture of, 256, 257. 



THE 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

CHAPTER I. 

THE FIRST, OR MEROVINGIAN RACE OF KINGS. 

From the Foundation of the Monarchy by Clovis, to the Abdication of Carloman, the 
last of the first race of kings. 

a. d. 486—750. 

THE kingdom of France extends over the greater part of 
that vast territory, known, to the ancient Romans, by the 
name of Gaul. Under this appellation, were included, 
also, the Cantons of Switzerland, and the Low Countries, 
or Holland. The former were inhabited by a people called 
the Helvetii ; the latter, by the Belgae : but, to these nations, 
were given, in the time of Csesar, by whom they were re- 
duced under the Roman power, the general name of Gauls. 

In the reign of the emperors Valerian and Gallien, the 
Franks, a people of Gothic descent, were settled in Germany, 
between the Elbe and the Rhine. They received the name 
of Franks, or freemen, from their union to resist the domi- 
nation of the Romans. We learn, from a medal of Constan- 
tine the Great, that there was, on the north side of the 
Rhine, in the beginning of the fourth century, a canton, 
which bore the name of Francia. A succession of kings 
began there, in the time of Honorius ; the first of whom was 
Pharamond, followed by Clodion, Meroveus, and Childeric. 
These princes made occasional irruptions into Gaul ; but 
none of them fixed his residence there ; having returned 
to their own habitations, with their spoil, or been driven 
back by the Romans, ,But Clovis, the son of Chil- 
* 8 g* deric, was not so easily satisfied with plunder, nor 
so easily repulsed. He passed the Rhine, at the head 
of a numerous army, and founded the monarchy of France, 
or the Land of Freemen, in that great and fruitful pro- 
vince. 



12 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

It was in the fifth year of his reign, and the twentieth of 
his age, that he entered upon the execution of this great 
design. 

The condition of the Franks, resembled that of almost 
every other nation, in their primeval state. More jealous of 
liberty, than desirous of obtaining the luxuries of life, they 
were strangers to silver and gold ; and all their commerce 
was carried on by exchange. Their forests were their only 
towns : their houses consisted of subterraneous caverns, 
or of rustic habitations, composed of wood, cemented with 
clay. Their possessions were confined to such lands, as 
the prince or the magistrate distributed amongst them, every 
year, according to their services, or rank. Their hospi- 
tality Was a theme of universal admiration. Their houses 
were always open to the stranger ; who was treated with 
kindness, as long as he chose to remain ; and, at his depar- 
ture, was loaded with presents. Their religion was not 
less simple, than their manners. The sun, the moon, fire, 
trees, and rivers, were their deities. Their temples were 
rocky caverns, or the most gloomy recesses of their forests, 
impenetrable to the light of day. Human victims, sheep, 
wolves, and foxes, were the sacrifices, oifered by them to* 
their gods ; and their priests were less deeply versed in 
theology, than magic. 

The principal amusements of their children, were wrest- 
ling and riding. Their arms were the sword, the lance or 
halbert, the sling, the mallet, the javelin, the battle-axe, and 
a species of heavy club. Their shield was oblong, composed 
of osier twigs, or the bark of trees 5 this, with a cuirass, 
covered with the skin of a bear, or wild boar, and a helmet 
crested with a horse's tail, dyed red, formed their only ar- 
mour. 

Such, were the ancient Franks, or Germans ; who were 
often attacked, sometimes beaten, but never totally subdued, 
by the Romans. 

Gaul was, at this time, divided amongst the Visigoths, 
the Burgundians, and the Romans. The Roman territory 
extended along the Rhine ; and comprised nearly all the 
provinces between that river, the ocean, and the Loire. 
The Burgundians possessed those parts between the Saone 
and the Rhone ; and several towns, on both sides of these 
rivers. They were masters of Lyons, Vienne, and Geneva : 
they spread as far as that country now called Dauphine, and 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. IS 

also the province between the Durance and the Rhone, and 
. Savoy. The Visigoths occupied the rest of the country, 
from the Loire, to the Alps and Pyrenees. The young 
king Alaric then reigned over the Visigoths 5 Gondebald and 
Gondegesile, over the Burgundians. Italy was in the pos- 
session of Theoderic, king of the Ostrogoths ; the Roman 
Empire, the seat of which was Constantinople, was subject 
to Anastasius ; who, less hostile to the Franks, than to Theo- 
deric, and the other chieftains by whom the empire had been 
dismembered, was desirous of being at amity with Clovis. 
The ordinary residence of the Roman general, who had 
then the charge of Gaul, was Soissons ; where, he was at- 
tacked by Clovis, and entirely defeated 5 after which over- 
throw, the Roman power, in Gaul, before rapidly declining, 
was totally extinct. 

In the age immediately preceding the irruption of the 
Franks, learning flourished in Gaul ; and this country had 
as extensive a commerce, as any part of the Roman empire, 
Italy excepted. Marseilles was the chief emporium of its 
commerce. , The Gauls had long been completely Roman- 
ized ; and the Latin was the common language of the nation. 
4 qj Clovis being, at this time, a pagan, his marriage with 
Clotilda, a Christian princess, niece of Gondebald, 
one of the Burgundian kings, was an event, very gratifying 
to the Gauls, lately subjected by Clovis ; they being them- 
selves of the Christian faith. The Visigoths and Burgun- 
dians were Christians of the Arian sect ; the Gauls, recently 
brought under the dominion of Clovis, were of the Roman 
Catholic persuasion. 

r But the marriage of his niece, to Clovis, was not alto- 
gether pleasing, to the Burgundian prince. The ambassador 
of the former, had not proceeded far, with Clotilda, in her 
journey towards his kingdom, when, the princess, having 
received advice, that a party was likely to be despatched, 
by her uncle, to bring her back, told her conductor, that, 
if he desired to carry her, in safety, to the country of the 
Franks, they must quit the carriage in which they travelled ; 
which being drawn by oxen, made but slow progress. Upon 
this, he set her on horseback, left a guard with the chariot, 
and then went forward, with great expedition, till they 
reached the frontier of the kingdom. 

The necessity of this precaution, was soon apparent* A 
detachment of horse, sent after the princess, overtook the 
B 



14 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

chariot, and carried it back ; together with the greater part of 
the money, and other articles of value, given to Clotilda, as 
a marriage portion. 

4 g_ Although, being a Burgundian, Clotilda had been 
nursed in the bosom of the Arian church, she had 
lately embraced the Roman Catholic faith. She was assi- 
duous in her endeavours to convert her husband to Chris- 
tianity; and was at length rendered successful, by a fortunate 
occurrence. In a battle with the Allemanni, who had passed 
the Rhine, with the intention of driving the Franks from 
the countries which they had conquered, Clovis, being hard 
pressed by the enemy, made a vow, it is said, that if he were 
victorious, he would embrace the religion of Clotilda ; and, 
having gained the battle, he accordingly, when arrived at 
Rheims, was there baptized. Three thousand of the most 
' considerable persons of his court and army, followed his 
example, on the same day ; and Christianity was, in a short 
time, embraced, by all the royal family, and by almost the 
whole nation of Franks. 

Clovis, being then the only monarch of the Roman Catholic 
religion, was particularly honoured, by the pope. He was 
considered worthy to bear the title of the Most Christian ; 
by which, he and his successors, with only one exception, 
have ever since been distinguished. 

The result of the several conflicts, maintained, by Clovis, 
with the Burgundians, was of less importance, than his war 
with Alaric, king of the Yisigoths. This was one of the 
most glorious of all his expeditions, made the greatest altera- 
tion in Gaul, and enabled him to extend, still further, the 
boundaries of his dominions. 

Alaric ascended the throne of the Visigoths, about the 
same time that Clovis began to reign over the Franks. 
They were both nearly of the same age; but the incidents of 
their lives, had, till then, been very different. Alaric had 
found a fertile country in Gaul, already conquered Clovis" 
made his way, to his kingdom, by the sword. The one had 
enjoyed uninterrupted peace; the other had always been en- 
gaged in war. Clovis had the reputation of an accomplished 
soldier, successful and victorious, in all his undertakings; 
Alaric, that of a wise and moderate prince, who, when the 
neighbouring states were continually harassed, by foreign or 
domestic wars, preserved his own kingdom, from being dis- 
turbed by the din of arms. 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 15 

- ft - It was discovered, that Alaric was forming an offen- 
" sive league, with Theoderic ; and making clandestine 
preparations to surprise Clovis, while he amused him with 
the appearance of perfect friendship. But Clovis was soon 
aware of this design. He not only stood upon his guard, 
but was first ready to take the field. He entered Poictou, 
at the head of an army, and met Alaric on the plain of 
Vouille. 

At the first onset, the Visigoths were driven back: but 
an accident occurred, which, for some moments, held the 
issue in suspense. The two kings, who rode along the 
ranks, to encourage their men, encountered each other, in 
the midst of the field of battle. Every eye was turned 
towards the interesting scene. Every sound was hushed, 
save the clashing of the royal arms. Both sides stood still, 
waiting the event of a single combat, that was, in all ap- 
pearance, to decide the fate of the two nations. They made 
many pushes at each other, and many blows were given, by 
each prince, which they warded off with their shields ; but, 
at length, Clovis dismounted his antagonist, and gave him, 
at the same time, a stroke, of which he quickly died. 

It was not difficult, to complete the overthrow of an army, 
that had already begun to turn their backs. The Visigoths, 
after this defeat, were able to preserve only a small part of 
the territory possessed by them, in Gaul. Clovis detached 
a numerous body of troops, under his son Theoderic (or 
Thierry); who, treading in his father's steps, signalized him- 
self by the conquest of Albi, Roiiergue, and Auvergne; 
and of nearly all the places held by the Visigoths, on that 
side, as far as the frontiers of Burgundy: and, at the same 
time, Clovis himself brought under obedience, Touraine, 
Poictou, Limosin, Perigord, Xaintogne, and Angoumois; 
carried his conquests into Armorica or Brittany; compelled 
the kings of the latter country to relinquish the royal title, 
for that of duke; and finished the campaign, with the taking 
of Bourdeaux. 

- og Clovis was not yet satiated with conquest. He 
availed himself of the favourable tide in his affairs. 
In the ensuing spring, he began with the siege of Toulouse, 
the capital of the Visigoths; which having reduced, he there 
found the treasures of Alaric. Thence, he proceeded to 
Tours, as well with the design of performing his devotions 
in the church of St. Martin, as of receiving ambassadors, 



16 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

Sent to him, by Anastasius, emperor of the East; and, after 
these ceremonies, he went to Paris, which, in the same 
year, he fixed as the capital of his kingdom. 

Paris, named, by Julius Caesar, Lutetia, was, in his time, 
comprised within the narrow limits of that island in the 
Heine, now called the Island of Notre Dame; and did not 
cover one-twentieth of the area of the present city. 

To atone for some enormities, of which Clovis, in com- 
mon with nearly all the sovereigns of that age, had been 
guilty, he founded monasteries, and erected churches; the 
most efficient mode, according to the superstitious practice, 
then encouraged, by the Roman clergy, of obtaining forgive- 
<-,, ness, for every crime. He also assembled, at Or- 
leans, a council of bishops, the first held in Gaul, 
under the dominion of the Franks. 

This is the last act, of importance, recorded of this fa- 
mous prince. In the month of November, in the same year, 
he died, at Paris, in the forty-fifth year of his age, and thir- 
tieth of his reign. 

Clovis signalized himself more, by his valour and his 
conquests, than any other sovereign of his time. The de- 
sign of becoming sole and absolute monarch of all Gaul, 
was his ruling passion. Could he have moderated this de- 
sire, his reputation had been more illustrious, and the last 
years of his life, more innocent; nor should we have blamed 
in Clovis, the Christian, such cruelties, as are opposite to 
the soft and humane disposition, for which he was admired, 
when a Heathen. 

The kings of the Franks were invested with high au- 
thority; but were, at the same time, restrained by laws, 
which they did not dare to violate. After having gained 
the victory over Syagrius, the Roman general, at Soissons, 
Clovis wished to present, to a bishop, a superb vase, which 
had been taken in the pillage of the town; but, one of the 
Franks, a soldier of a fierce and independent spirit, struck 
the vase, with his battle-axe; declaring, with ferocity, that 
the plunder must be shared, by lot, and that the king him- 
self had no better right. 

The death of Clovis was a severe blow to the grandeur 
of the French monarchy. He left four sons; who divided 
his extensive dominions amongst them. Thierry, the eld- 
est, had the largest share. He was king of Austrasia; 
which comprehended not only the north-eastern part of 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 17 

France, but also the German conquests of his father. His 
seat of government, was Metz. The other three kingdoms 
took the name of their respective capitals. Clodomir was 
king of Orleans? Childebert, of Paris? and Clotaire, of 
Soissons. 

This division of the empire, not only weakened its force, 
but caused also most deplorable quarrels. The brothers 
became enemies, whenever /their interests jarred. The 
most dreadful barbarities were the consequence of these 
dissensions; and, mean while, a new and unexpected enemy 
_-,£ arose. An army of Danish pirates, entered the 
Meuse, and ravaged the country, between this river 
and the Rhine. Thierry sent against them his son Theo- 
debert, then about eighteen years old, with a fleet and a 
land-force. The enterprise was happily conducted. This 
young prince, who afterwards became formidable to the 
most powerful enemies of France, defeated the Danes, both 
by land and sea, took many prisoners, and seized upon all 
their spoil. 

-ncs Sigismond, the son and successor of Gondebald, king 
J °* of Burgundy, having been defeated, in battle, by the 
Franks, and fallen into the hands of his nephew, Clodomir, 
was carried prisoner to Orleans, together with his- queen, 
and his two sons. But Godemar, the brother of Sigismond, 
soon raised another army, and recovered, in a few days, all 
that the Franks had taken. This reverse did not dishearten 
Clodomir, who resolved to continue the war. Fearing, 
however, that Sigismond, with his wife and children, might, 
in his absence, escape, the ties of consanguinity were rent 
asunder, and he put them to death, by a mode, then not 
unusual in France — throwing them into a well. 

The two armies joined at Veseronce, not far from the 
Rhone and the town of Vienne* Godemar was defeated 
here, also; but escaped. The defeat, however, was fatal 
to the victor. Clodomir, in the heat of pursuit, was car- 
ried, by his horse, into the midst of the enemy; and, being 
discovered, by his long hair, was slain* Godemar, having 
taken off his head, stuck it upon the point of a lance; and 
then, rallying some battalions, retook the field; hoping that 
the loss of their king, would induce the Franks to lay down 
their arms. But the event was otherwise. Animated by 
a desire of revenging the death of their victorious chief, 
their courage was changed to fury; and, felling upon the 
b 2 



18 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

Bur<nmdians, they cut them to pieces, and left not their ill- 
fated country, until they had entirely laid it waste. ( 
-.,<, The beginning of this year, was marked by a most 
cruel and barbarous act. Childebert and Clotaire per- 
suaded their mother, Clotilda, to bring to Paris the three 
sons of their deceased brother, Clodomir, under a pretence 
of putting them into possession of their father's kingdom; 
but, in reality, with a design of murdering them. Clotaire 
stabbed two of them, with his own hand; Clodoalde was 
conveyed away, out of his reach, received the tonsure, and 
became a monk. 

The church and village of St. Cloud, are named after 
Clodoalde; and in the former, he w^as interred. 

On the death of Thierry, king of Austrasia, his son 
Theodebert was declared his successor. The king of Bur- 
gundy was unable to withstand the powerful alliance now 
formed against him, by the two uncles and the nephew. 
After the loss of a battle, he w r as forced to yield, was taken, 
and imprisoned in a castle, where he ended his days. 

Thus, the kingdom of Burgundy was united to France, 
about one hundred years after its foundation, and the three 
kings divided it amongst them. 

~~ the death of his two brothers and his nephew, 

Clotaire became sole monarch of the French empire. 
But he enjoyed this great accession of power, only for a 
short time. When hunting, in the forest of Cuise, he was 
seized with a fever; and, having been carried to Compeigne 
(at that time, only a pleasure-house) he died, there, in the 
sixty-fourth year of his age, and the fifty -first of his reign; 
5 q exclaiming, with his latest breath, "How great, 
must that King of Heaven be, who destroys, when 
he pleases, the greatest kings on earth!" 

Clotaire was a crafty and cruel prince: having scarcely 
any good qualities, except valour, intrepidity, and a talent 
for war: which were inherited, in common, by all the male 
children of Clovis. 

He left four sons — Chilperic, Charibert, Gontran, and 
Sigebert. 

The experience of the evils arising from the division of 
the French monarchy, amongst the sons of Clovis, did not 
psevent a similar partition, alter the death of Clotaire. His 
four sons apportioned the four kingdoms amongst them, by 
lot. The kingdom of Paris fell to Charibert; Soissons, to 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 19 

Chilperic; Austrasia, to-Sigebert; and Orleans, to Gontran; 
in whose lot, was also included the Burgundian realm; 
which had been conquered by the united forces of Childe- 
bert and Clotaire. 

This new division was followed bj consequences, still 
more fatal, than the former. 

Brunehaud, princess of Spain, wife of Sigebert, and Fre- 
degonda, wife of Chilperic — two queens, who might be 
called furies, rather than women — sacrificed every thing to 
their ambition. Their mutual hatred, conjoined with their 
influence over their husbands, produced a series of crimes, 
alike ruinous to the royal family, and the people. 

Two kings, and several princes of the royal blood, were, 
by their means, murdered. 

- 7 - Chilperic being besieged, in Tournay, by Sigebert, 
' without any hope, either of relief, or escape, his queen, 
Fredegonda, sent, to the latter, two resolute assassins, in 
the peaceful character of negotiators; who, under a pretence 
of proposing an accommodation, stabbed him, through the 
heart. 

The face of affairs was, by this event, in a moment changed. 
The siege of Tournay was quickly raised. Fredegonda des- 
patched a messenger to Paris, to inform those of her faction, 
there, of what had happened, and ordered them to seize 
upon the queen of Austrasia, the widow of Sigebert; who, 
with her children, had come to that capital, to meet her 
husband. Brunehaud and her children were taken into cus- 
tody. This was Chilperic's shortest way to become master 
of Austrasia. Treachery and murder seemed, for a while 
triumphant. But he was defeated in this criminal attempt. 
Gondebaud, one of the generals of the Austrasian army, 
having bribed or overreached the guards, let down the young 
prince, Childebert, in a sack, through a window, and carried 
him to Metz; where he was placed upon his father's throne. 
-g 4 In the summer of this year, Chilperic, king of Sois- 
sons, died, by the hand of an assassin, supposed to 
have been employed by his own queen Fredegonda. 
61 ^ After the murder of many other princes, and many 
years of civil war, carried on with a most vindictive 
spirit, Clotaire II., son of Chilperic and Fredegonda, became 
sole monarch of France. 

Fredegonda was allowed to die, by the hand of nature; 
but her rival in atrocity, Brunehaud, was put to death, in a 



20 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

manner corresponding with the cruelties committed, by her, 
upon others. Having reproached her, besides other crimes, 
with the murder of ten princes, Clotaire delivered her to 
the executioner; who, for three successive days, inflicted 
upon her every species of torture. After this, she was 
placed upon a camel, and compelled to ride through all the 
camp, where the soldiers offered her a thousand insults; 
and at length one of her feet and an arm were tied to the 
tail of a wild horse; which, dragging her around the camp, 
tore her to pieces: and thus- ended her dreadful punish- 
ment. Her body was then thrown into a fire, and burned to 
ashes. 

The tortures inflicted upon Brunehaud, are shocking to 
humanity, at this enlightened period of the Christian world; 
yet, Clotaire, by whom they were directed, was of a dispo- 
sition widely different from that of his atrocious parent. He 
re-established tranquillity, gained the hearts of his people, 
by his justice and generosity, and attached the nobles to 
him, by augmenting their importance. 

He committed the government of Austrasia and Burgundy, 
to officers, called Mayors of the Palace; a sort of viceroys; 
who, daily acquiring power, at length made their way to 
the throne. 

The office of mayor of the palace, was originally confined 
to the direction of the king's household: the mayors, after- 
wards, became the first ministers of state, and, at length, 
commanders-in-chief of the armies; and assumed the title of 
duke of the French, or, sometimes, that of viceroy. At 
first, they were subject to removal, at the king's pleasure: 
they had afterwards the address to secure their office for 
life, and, in the course of time, to render it hereditary, and 
transmit it to their sons. 

628 ^ e v * ces °f Dagobert, the son of Clotaire; (in 
whose person, the whole French monarchy, on the 
death of his brother Charibert, was a fourth time united 
under one king;) the taxes with which he loaded the people, 
to furnish his debauches, or to enrich the church, in order 
to atone for them; weakened the royal authority, at the same 
time that they debased it 

He founded the abbey of St. Dennis, so long famous for 
being the burial-place ot the kings of France; and bequeathed 
eight thousand pounds weight of lead to cover it; which was 
his last attempt to bribe Heaven to forgive his sins. 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 21 

fi ., 8 His two sons, Sigebert II. and Clovis II., were only 
the founders of monasteries. They were ciphers in 
their kingdom: the actual sovereigns were the mayors. 
r _ 4 On the death of Sigebert, Grimoalde, mayor of 
* ' Austrasia, placed his own son, Childebert, upon the 
throne of that kingdom. The usurper was deposed : but the 
seductive example remained, as a lure, to future ambition. 

The succeeding princes, Clotaire III., Childeric, and 
Thierry, sons of Clovis II., were as weak as their predeces- 
sor. They were no more than decorated pageants, occa- 
sionally shown to the people. 

firr> Clotaire having died, Thierry was seized, by his 
' surviving brother, and forced to retire to the abbey 
of St. Dennis. But Childeric did not long enjoy the sole 
government, which he had thus violently usurped. He was 
naturally of a hasty temper,* and, being one day angry with 
a certain lord, named Bodillon, ordered him to be tied to a 
post, and receive a thousand blows. Exasperated at such 
deirrading treatment, the insulted noble conspired against 
him, formed an ambuscade in a forest, where Childeric, 
with his queen, and one of his children, was slain. 

Such, is the consequence of haughty insult, followed by 
revenge; by which, the innocent too often suffer with the 
guilty; and thus, has another horrid scene been added to the 
frightful picture of those savage times. 
^ 14 After the death of Pepin d'Heristal, duke of Aus- 
trasia — who, by restoring national assemblies, which 
the disposition of former monarchs had abolished; by turning 
the restless impetuosity of the French against foreign ene- 
mies; and by other wise measures, had, as mayor of the 
palace, quietly enjoyed the supreme power, in France, 
during twenty-eight years — his authority passed into the 
hands of his widow, Plectrude; whose grandson, Theodebald, 
yet an infant, was created mayor. 

Though, however, the insignificant kings were contented 
to live under the guardianship of a child, the government of 
a woman was ill suited to those turbulent times. 

Charles Martel, a natural son of Pepin, was suspected of 
ambitious views, by Plectrude, and immediately imprisoned. 
But his confinement was of only short duration. He soon 
found means to escape, was received, by the Austrasians, 
with open arms; and his superior talents soon exalted him to 
the same degree of power, that had been enjoyed by his father. 



22 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

-,-g Now master of France, he directed his attention 
principally to two objects: the first was, to reduce the 
German nations, that had shaken off the yoke of France; the 
second, to send missionaries to instruct the same people, and 
the other nations that had been subdued by this empire, and 
had not yet embraced the Christian faith. He attacked the 
Saxons, again imposed upon them a tribute; reconquered all 
the country, as far as the Weser; some time afterwards, 
caused the Allemanni to know his strength, and carried his 
arms as far as the other side of the Danube. 
« 31 By a signal victory, he saved France from the sword 
of the Saracens, who had already subjected Spain. 
This people, the conquerors of the East and of Africa, had 
been invited into Spain, in the year 714, by count Julian; 
from a wish to revenge himself on Rodrigue, king of the 
Visigoths, who had repudiated his daughter. At an inter- 
view with Emir Mirza, lieutenant to Valid, caliph of the 
Saracens, he offered him his country, on condition of re- 
ceiving immediate succour. They accordingly entered the 
dominions of Rodrigue, and committed most dreadful devas- 
tations. The king of the Visigoths was overcome; and was 
afterwards slain, in the pursuit. Tins victory decided the 
fate of the empire. The kingdom of the Visigoths, which 
had existed for more than three centuries, in Spain, was 
extinguished, and the nation almost totally destroyed. A 
small part, indeed, took refuge in the mountains of the 
Asturias, of Gallicia, and of Biscay; where they founded a 
new monarchy, under the conduct of Pelagus; from whom, 
the kings of Castile are descended. Some of them retired 
into France; and those who submitted to the Moors, pre- 
served their religion, under the name of Mozarabian Chris- 
tians. 

Between Poictiers and Tours, Charles encountered an 
immense army of that nation, commanded by Abderame, a 
soldier of high reputation; where, it is said, three-hundred 
thousand of their number, together with their general, 
perished on the field. It was upon this occasion, some his- 
torians relate, that Charles received the surname of Martel; 
because he had so successfully used, against the Saracens, a 
kind of heavy weapon, called martel, which signifies, in 
English, a maul, or hammer. 

By his wise administration, he kept all the neighbouring 
nations in awe; yet he would assume no higher title, than 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 23 

that of duke of France; conscious that the title of king, 

could add nothing to his power. 

741 Charles Martel died in the fiftieth year of his age; 

* and, in the same year, died also Leo Isaurius, emperor 
of the East, and Pope Gregory III. Charles was buried 
at St. Dennis. The ancient historians describe him as a 
great man, a great prince, a great soldier, and a great 
statesman. 

Although his victories over the Saracens, most probably 
saved Europe from the impending yoke of Mahomet, yet 
has his character been impeached, by the legends of the 
monks; who, resenting the freedom with which he applied 
the revenues of the church, to the defence of the Christian 
religion, have not scrupled to enrol him amongst the damned. 
In a letter, addressed to Louis, the grandson of Charle- 
magne, it is asserted, that, on opening the tomb of Charles 
Martel, the spectators were affrighted by the smell of fire, 
and the appearance of a horrid dragon; and that a saint of 
those times was indulged with a vision of the soul and 
body of the founder of the Carlo vingian race, burning in the 
abyss of hell ! 

By his first wife, Charles had two sons, Carloman and 
Pepin; between whom, some time before his death, he di- 
vided the state which he had governed with so much glory. 
-,.,_ But, amidst a most victorious career, against the 
northern enemies of the nation, Carloman embraced 
a measure, which surprised all France. He renounced his 
government, and entered upon a religious life; exchang- 
ing the exciting bustle of a court, for the dull inactivity of 
a monastic cell. He retired to Mount Soracte, now called 
the mount of St. Sylvester; where he built a monastery: 
and afterwards he went to Mount Cassin; where he dis- 
tinguished himself as much by his sanctity, in private, as 
he had, before, by his prudence and valiant conduct in 
public. 

Pecuniary fines were almost the only punishments, known 
in those days. Scarcely any other crimes than those 
which affected the state, were punished with death. The 
Salique law, (supposed to have been compiled by Phara- 
mond) fixes the sums to be paid, to the king, by way of 
tine, and to the party injured, by way of reparation. The 
life of a bishop was valued at nine-hundred sols of gold; 
(each sol being about twelve shillings and sixpence ster- 



24 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

ling;) that of a priest, at six-hundred; and that of a layman, 
at something less. If the assassin were insolvent, his re- 
lations, to a certain degree, were compelled to pay for him; 
and, if they were unable, he became a slave to the family 
of the deceased. The court sent commissioners, at stated 
times, into the provinces, to hear complaints, and report 
them to the king; and sometimes the monarch administered 
justice himself; on which occasions, the court was held at 
his palace-gate. 

It may not be unprofitable, to inquire in this place, what 
is the origin of the Salique law; the most remarkable 
feature of which, is, that females, and even all males de- 
riving their title through females, are excluded from the 
throne of France. — " While the Franks," says the baron 
Montesquieu, "lived in their own country, their whole 
stock consisted of slaves, herds of cattle, horses, accou- 
trements, and arms. Lands for cultivation were assigned 
to them, by the state, for a year only, and, after that time, 
were resumed by the public. What, then, were the lands, 
to which the male issue succeeded ? Every hut or cabin 
had a precinct of ground; and that was the estate which 
descended to the sons, or went in the male line. It was 
called Salique land, because the mansion of a German was 
called Sal, and the space enclosing it, Salbac, the home- 
stead. When the Franks gained possessions in Gaul y they 
still continued to give, to their new settlements, the name 
of Salique land; and hence, the law of the Franks, which 
regulated the course of descent, was called the Salique 
Law. 

Regular troops were, at this period, unknown : each 
province had its militia ; and those were generally com- 
manded to march, that were nearest to the scene of action. 
It does not appear that the soldiers had any pay : their sole 
reward consisted in the booty wliich they seized. The 
prisoners were condemned to slavery; and hostages expe- 
rienced the same fate, when those who gave them failed to 
perform their engagements. 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 25 



CHAPTER II. 

THE SECOND, OR CARLOVINGIAN RACE OF KINGS. 

CHARLEMAGNE. 

From the accession of Pepin, to the death of Lothaire ; the last of the second 
race of kings. 

A. d. 750—987. 

The retirement of Carloman, within the walls of a clois- 
ter, having left Pepin (surnamed the Short, and also the 
Younger, to distinguish him from his grandfather, of the 
same name) sole governor of the kingdom, he at length as- 
sumed the sovereignty, in name, as well as in reality; and 
excluded, for ever, the descendants of Clovis, or the Mero- 
vingian race, from the throne of France. 

It had, for some time, been openly affirmed, that Pepin 
deserved to be a king; and he was so, in effect, though 
another possessed the title ; but it had always been es- 
7 - 1 teemed a crime, to deprive him of it. To remove 
this obstacle, which had stood in the way of all his 
predecessors, he thought that a service could be rendered, 
by the interposition of the pope. Pepin had contracted an 
intimate friendship with Zachary, then in the chair of St. 
Peter; he consulted him upon all important questions of 
ecclesiastical discipline, with regard to the bishops and 
priests, monks and nuns; and caused to be read in council, 
his answers; which were always followed with respect 
The pope found it his interest, to be on friendly terms with 
Pepin. On the point of being overwhelmed by the Lom- 
bards, and hated by the emperor, Constantius Copro- 
nymus, as great an Iconoclast, or image-breaker, as his 
father, Isaurius, he had no other dependence, except on 
France. Pepin was not ignorant of this; and discovered 
to him the design he had formed, of causing himself to be 
declared king. The danger in which Rome then was, of 
sinking under the power of the Lombards; the outrage of 
the emperor of Constantinople, against the catholic religion; 
the Saracens being masters of Spain; the German churches 
being, on all sides, exposed to the incursions of the neigh- 
bouring nations, who were pagans; the power and reputa- 
tion of Pepin, who, only, was able to avert so many evils 
with which the church was threatened; the fatal consequen- 



26 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

ces of his resentment, and the many advantages that would 
result From a good understanding between him and the hoi y 
see ; the little injury which would thereby be done to a 
king who was not worthy of that title; and to a family, 
who, for a hundred years, had possessed nothing but the 
empty name : all these considerations moved the pope, and 
brought him over to the side of Pepin. He gave it, as his 
opinion, that, in the existing state of affairs, the person who 
possessed the authority, might join to it the name of king 

Pepin made a judicious use of this accommodating an- 
swer. He called an assembly of the nobles, at Soissons ; 
where they confirmed all those reasons in his favour; and 
he was, accordingly, with his wife, Bertrude, placed upon 
the throne. 

Childeric (the third of that name, whose father is not 
certainly known) was soon deprived even of the semblance 
of royal power. Having been first shaved — after this de- 
gradation, he was carried to the monastery of Sithien, now 
the abbey of St. Bertin, at St. Omer's; where he was admit- 
ted as a monk, and a few years afterwards, died. 

He had a son named Thierry, who also closed his days 
within the monastic walls; and thus ended the race of Clovis 
and Meroveus; after they had reigned two-hundred-and-sixty- 
five years, in Gaul. 

Other incidents occurred, to increase the importance of 
the new king. Astolphus, king of the Lombards, had, for 
some time, threatened Rome. He had lately taken Ra- 
venna, from the exarch, Eutychius; and, as the authority 
of the exarchs of Ravenna, had always extended over the 
city of Rome, Astolphus pretended, that, being master of 
that city, Rome, also, should be subject to him, and ac- 
knowledge him as king. Refused assistance by the empe- 
ror of Constantinople, and seeing no prospect of an accom- 
modation, Stephen III., the successor of Zachary, in the 
pontifical chair, had recourse to the king of France, and 
came for sanctuary, to Pepin's court. 
754 The pope was not deceived in his expectation. 
* He induced Pepin to wage war with the king of 
Lombardy; but, while France was making preparation for 
the contest, Pepin, who seldom failed to profit by any op- 
portunity, was of opinion that some advantage might be 
reaped from the influence of the pope's presence, upon the 
minds of the French. He had been consecrated king, by 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 27 

St Boniface, bishop of Mayence; but was desirous of 
having the ceremony performed, again, by the father of the 
church,* who readily consented. Queen Bertrude, and the 
two princes, Charles and Carloman, also, received the 
royal unction, from the hands of Stephen; who exhorted 
and conjured the French nobles, in the name of St. Peter, 
to maintain the crown in the family of Pepin. 

Pepin, on his part, made a solemn promise to the pope, 
as did also his two sons, to protect the holy see. ^ This en- 
gagement, he honourably fulfilled. In the following year, 
he led an army across the Alps; defeated Astolphus, in a 
sanguinary battle; compelled him to cede Ravenna, and 
many other places, to himself; and, as the exarchate, by 
this means, became his conquest, he made a grant of it to 
the pope and the Roman church, and sent the keys of the 
ceded towns to Rome; where they were deposited upon the 
tomb of St. Peter, to put him, and all his successors, in 
symbolical possession. 

This is the origin of the temporal power of the popes. 

The conquest of Aquitaine was the last exploit of Pepin. 
He was seized with a fever, at Xaintes; and, after he had 
lain some days, he caused himself to be carried to the tomb 
of St. Martin, and thence to St. Dennis; where he died, 
7( .q of a dropsy, at the age of fifty four, in the seven- 
teenth year of his reign, and twentieth of his go- 
vernment. 

None of Pepin's predecessors, on the throne of France, 
was equal to him, in courage, prudence, and success, and 
all the great qualities that concur, to form an accomplished 
prince. Of the various modes, that serve to raise a man 
to a throne, who had not been placed there by his birth, 
he made choice of the least odious. He shed no blood, 
either in ascending to it, or maintaining himself on it; and 
so well did he establish his authority, that during his whole 
reign, there is no mention of a revolt, in France. 

Pepin acquired the surname of Short, from his diminu- 
tive stature; which became a subject of pleasantry, to some 
of his courtiers. The king, being informed of their re- 
marks, determined to convince them of their error; and, 
with this view, he caused a combat to be exhibited, at the 
abbey of Ferrieres, between a lion and a bull. The former 
having thrown down his adversary, Pepin turned to the 
noblemen that were present, and asked, which of them had 



28 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

courage to separate or kill the furious combatants. The 
mere proposal made them shudder. Not one of them re- 
plied. "I will do it, then, myself," said the monarch, calmly. 
He accordingly drew his sabre, leaped into the arena, at- 
tacked and killed the lion; and then, turning to the bull, 
aimed so severe a blow at his head, that he separated it from 
his body. The whole court were astonished, at this pro- 
digious exertion of strength and courage. The nobles, who 
had indulged their wit, at the expense of the king, were 
confounded. Pepin, turning towards them, exclaimed, in a 
lofty tone — " David was small; but he overcame the proud 
giant, who had dared to treat him with contempt." 

This ferocious kind of amusement, was common, in 
those times. The kings not only exhibited combats of 
wild beasts, to the people, but frequently indulged them- 
selves in this favourite sport, within the precincts of the 
palace. 

The French government was now divided between 
Charles and Carloman, the two eldest sons of the late 
king. They were of very different dispositions. Charles was 
open and generous; Carloman, dark and suspicious. It 
was, therefore, happy for the nation that the latter died 
soon after his father; as intestine wars might have conti- 
nually resulted, from the opposite tempers, and jarring in- 
terests, of the two brothers. 

„„~ Now alone, at the head of a powerful kingdom, 
. ' ' the great and aspiring genius of Charles, (subse- 
quently entitled Charlemagne, or Charles the Great,) soon 
gave birth to projects, that will render his name immortal. 

But, before we proceed further, in the history of this 
illustrious reign, we must take a cursory view of the co- 
temporary state of Germany. This extensive country was 
formerly possessed by a number of free and independent 
nations; who bravely defended themselves against the 
Romans, and were never totally subjected by them. On 
the decline of the Roman empire, many of these nations, 
allured by the climate of the more southern regions, emerged 
from their gloomy forests, and founded empires or princi- 
palities, in other parts; so that Germany, on the accession 
of Charlemagne to the crown of France, was occupied 
chiefly by the Saxons. They were as yet pagans. What 
was then considered as their territory, comprehended a vast 
tract of country, extending from Bohemia, to the Baltic 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 29 

and German Ocean. This spacious empire was governed 
by many princes, independent of each other 5 and inhabited 
by various tribes, who had become tributary to the French 
crown. But this kind of subjection was borne by them 
with great impatience. At any time, when the French 
throne was vacant, or the kings were engaged in war, the 
Saxon princes burst the fetters which had bound them, and 
invaded the territories of France. Charles had occasion 
to quell one of these revolts, immediately after the death of 
Carl oman; and the work was not completed, when his arms 
were wanted in another quarter. 

The two brothers are said to have married two daughters 
of Desiderius, king of the Lombards. Charles had divorced 
his consort, because she had borne him no children; and 
married a Suabian princess, named Hildegarda. Bertha, 
the widow of Carloman, not thinking herself and children 
safe in France, after the death of her husband, retired into 
Italy, and implored the protection of her father; who re- 
ceived her and her family, with joy. Highly incensed 
against Charles, for having divorced his daughter, Deside- 
rius hoped, by means of these refugees, to raise such dis- 
turbances in France, as might both gratify his revenge, and 
prevent the French monarch from intermeddling with the 
affairs of Italy. Enraged at the refusal of pope Adrian, to 
crown and anoint the two sons of Carloman, he ravaged the 
papal territories, or, as they were called, the Patrimony 
of St. Peter; and threatened to besiege even Rome itself. 
This insult, though distressing to the pope, was yet fortu- 
nate for Charlemagne. Adrian sent ambassadors to Charles, 
not only to entreat his aid, but to invite him to the con- 
quest of Italy. The French monarch did not reject the in- 
vitation. Having arranged a hasty accommodation with the 
Saxons, he immediately left Germany; crossed the Alps, 
by an unusual route; entered Italy unmolested; forced 
Verona to surrender; seized Bertha and her two sons, and 
sent them, under a strong guard, into France. 
•r-4 Pavia, the capital of Desiderius, soon afterwards 
shared the fate of Verona. The unfortunate prince 
was obliged to surrender himself, his wife, and his children, 
to Charles; who sent them also into France; and thus, 
ended the kingdom of the Lombards, in Italy, after having 
subsisted two-hundred-and-six years. 

Of the state of Italy, at that time, it is proper that we 
g 2 



30 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

should here give some account. It was then held by the 
Venetians, the Lombards, the pope, and the emperor of the 
East. The Venetians had become very considerable, by 
their trade to the Levant; and exercised no small degree 
of sway in the affairs of Italy; though they had a very small 
portion of territory, on the continent. The pope was mas- 
ter of the exarchate and Pentapolis. The dukedom of 
Naples, and some cities in the two Calabrian provinces, 
were ruled by the emperor of the East. The other parts 
of Italy — the dukedom of Friuli, Spoleto, and Benevento; 
together with the provinces of Liguria, Venetia, Tuscany, 
and the Alpes Cottiae — were called the kingdom of the 
Lombards. The latter, Charles now claimed, by right of 
conquest; and caused himself, in imitation of the Lombard 
princes, to be crowned king of Italy, with an iron crown; 
which was preserved in the little town of Monga, until 
lately removed, thence, to Paris, by a conqueror of still 
higher reputation, than even Charles himself. 

Charles committed the boundaries of his new kingdom, 
and the territories of cities, to the care of counts; who 
were invested with great authority. These boundaries 
were called marches, and those to whom the care of them 
was committed, counts of the inarches, or marquises; 
whence, the title of marquis is derived. 

That Italy might retain at least some shadow of liberty, 
he convoked, as often as he returned to that country, a 
general assembly, of the bishops, abbots, and barons; in 
order to settle affairs of national importance. The Lom- 
bards had but one order, in their council — that of the. 
barons: but, as the French had two-— the clergy and the 
nobility — he added, in Italy, the order of the ecclesiastics, 
to that of the nobles. 

In the absence of Charlemagne, the Saxons had again 
revolted. But, a detail of his wars, with that barbarous, 
though brave people, would afford little pleasure, to a hu- 
manized mind. After a number of battles, gallantly fought, 
and many cruelties committed, on both sides, during a period 
of more than thirty years, the Saxons were totally subjected, 
and Germany became part of the empire of Charlemagne. 

Of the several forts erected by that people, to obstruct 
the passage of the French, the most considerable was Eres- 
burgh, near Paderbourn. In this fort, was worshiped, in 
a rich temple, the idol Irmunstal, the tutelary deity of the 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 31 

nation. Charlemagne besieged the place, got possession of 
it, carried oft' all the gold and silver of the temple, and spent 
three days, in razing it entirely to the ground. 

A desire of converting the Saxons to Christianity, seems 
to have been one of the principal motives to their conquest 
Charlemagne justly considered the mild doctrines of that 
religion, as the best means of taming a savage people : but he 
erred, hi supposing that Christians could ever be made by 
force. 

Besides the Lombards and the Saxons, whom he con- 
quered, Charles vanquished, in severaj engagements, the 
Avares, or Huns; and penetrated as far as the Raab, on the 
Danube. He likewise made an expedition into Spain; and 
carried his arms to the banks of the Ebro. In repassing 
the Pyrenees, his rear guard was defeated by the duke of 
Gascony, at Roncevaux; and here fell the famous Roland, 
so much celebrated in romance, and represented as a nephew 
of Charlemagne. 

War was then carried on, without any settled plan. Tiie 
troops were neither regularly disciplined, nor regularly 
paid. Every nobleman led forth his vassals, who were 
obliged to serve only for a certain time; the army was dis- 
solved, on the approach of winter, and assembled, the next 
season, if required. 

g00 Hitherto, Charles was honoured only with the title 
of king. But, an appellation, considered yet higher, 
was now conferred upon him, by the pope. On Christmas 
day, when the monarch was attending mass, in St. Peter s 
church, at Rome, the supreme pontift' advanced, and placed 
upon his head an imperial crown; and, having conducted 
him to an imperial throne, declared, that, he should thence- 
forth be styled emperor and Augustus. 

The pope had surely no right to proclaim an emperor; 
though Charles was worthy of the imperial ensigns; and 
may justly be considered as founder of the new empire of 
the West. 

Thus, the western empire, which had expired with Au- 
gustulus, in the year 476, was revived in the person of 
Charlemagne. 

Though engaged in so many wars, Charles did not neglect 
the arts of peace. Government and manners, religion and 
letters, were his constant pursuits. He frequently convened 
the national assemblies, for regulating the affairs both of 



S2 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

church and state. The French nobles had been accustomed, 
from the foundation of the monarchy, to share the legislation 
with their sovereigns. He manifested a particular regard 
for the common people; and studiously promoted their ease 
and advantage. He repaired and formed public roads, 
built bridges, made rivers navigable for the purposes of 
commerce; and projected a canal, which would have opened 
a communication between the German Ocean and the Black 
Sea, by uniting the Danube with the Rhine; a noble project, 
which failed in the execution, for want of adequate machines. 

The renown of Gharles was not confined to Europe. It 
extended even into Asia. The famous Haroun Al Rashid, 
king of Persia, one of those khalifs who contributed most 
to enlighten and polish the Arabs, valued his friendship, 
above that of all other potentates; as a proof of which, he 
complimented him with an embassy, and ceded to him, if 
not the lordship of Jerusalem, as some authors affirm, at 
least the holy places in that city; whither, a great many 
Christians had already been invited, by religion. 

Amongst the curious presents, brought to France, by the 
ambassadors of Al Rashid, was a striking clock; the first 
ever seen in that kingdom: for, notwithstanding the efforts 
of Charlemagne, to enlighten the nation, his subjects were 
not equal to those of Haroun, either in the liberal or the 
mechanic arts. 

In the preceding reign, an organ had been sent, with 
other magnificent presents, from Constantinople; also a no- 
velty in France; which Pepin gave to the church of St. Cor- 
neille, at Compeigne. 

814 Charlemagne died, at Aix-La-Chapelle, his usual 
place of residence, in the seventy-second year of his 
age, and the forty-seventh of his reign. His body was de- 
posited in a vault, in his chapel, at that place, seated on a 
throne of gold, arrayed in the imperial robes, with his sword 
at his side, the crown on his head, the Bible on his knees, 
and his shield and sceptre at his feet 

This great prince was not less amiable in private life, 
than illustrious in his public character. He was an affec- 
tionate father, a fond husband, and a generous friend. His 
house was a model of economy, and his person of simplicity 
and true grandeur. — " For shame," said he, to some of his 
nobles, who were more sumptuously attired, than the occa- 
sion required; " learn to dress like men; and let the world 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 33 

judge of your rank, by your merit, not by your apparel. 
Leave silks and finery to women; or reserve them for those 
days of pomp and ceremony, when robes are worn for show, 
not use." 

Charlemagne was of gigantic stature; being almost seven 
feet high, and proportionably strong. His ordinary dress 
consisted of a plain doublet, which, in winter, was made of 
an otter's skin; a woollen tunic, fringed with silk, and a blue 
coat or cassock; with small-clothes and stockings, made of 
transverse bands of cloth, of different colours. 

He delighted in the conversation and company of learned 
men; and drew them, by liberal encouragement, to his court, 
from all parts of Europe. He thus established, in his palace, 
an academy, of which he esteemed it an honour to rank 
as a member; and in the cathedrals and principal abbeys, 
schools; from which institutions, the universities of Paris, 
Tours, Thoulouse, and several others, are supposed to have 
had their origin. He was the first prince, after the subver- 
sion of the Roman empire, that made any attempt for the 
revival of letters, and the advancement of commerce, in the 
west of Europe. 

But though he was one of the most learned men of the 
age, he could not write. 

His dominions were immense. He possessed all France, 
the greater part of Germany, a part of Spain, the whole of 
the Low Countries, and tlie continent of Italy, as far as 
Benevento. 

Under the first two races of the French monarchs, the 
commerce of France, was of small importance. It was 
abandoned chiefly to foreigners, who imported but few ar- 
ticles of value, into the kingdom. Spain supplied the French 
with horses and mules; Friesland, with various articles of 
dress; England, with corn, iron, tin, lead, leather, and sport- 
ing dogs; Africa and the East, with wine, gauzes, papyra, 
or Egyptian paper — the only paper known in France, till the 
eleventh century; — and also with sweet oil. The exports 
from France, consisted generally of earthen-ware, copper 
vessels, wine, honey, madder, and salt. 

The oflice of constable began, at this period, to acquire 
importance. The constable was originally intrusted with 
the care of the king's stables; his post was equivalent to that 
of " master of the horse;" and he had two officers under him, 
called marshals. 



S4 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

The general mode of deciding controversies, which the 
testimony of men proved inadequate to settle, was by duel; 
but there was another mode, not unfrequently practised, 
called "the judgment of the cross." In the decision of 
doubtful matters, two men were chosen, who, having been 
conducted to the church, stood* erect, with their hands ex- 
tended, in the shape of a cross, during the celebration of 
divine service; and the cause was determined in favour of 
him whose champion remained motionless for the longest 
space of time. 

Eleven years before his death, Charlemagne had associ- 
ated with himself, in the empire, his three sons, Charles, 
Pepin, and Louis. But the two eldest having died before 
their father, Louis, surnamed the Debonnaire, from the 
mildness of his disposition, now succeeded to the crown. 

The empire of Charlemagne soon experienced the same 
fate with that of Alexander. It had quickly attained its 
height: it rapidly declined. Not yet sufficiently incorpo- 
rated by time, the discordant elements, soon began to se- 
parate, under his pacific son; and that vast body was, in a 
Few years, entirely dismembered. 

The greatest error of Louis, was caused by his paternal 
affection, and a blind imitation of his father's example, in 
dividing his dominions amongst his children. Three years 
after his accession to the throne, he admitted his eldest son, 
Lothaire, to a participation in his French and German ter- 
ritories; declared Pepin king of Aquitaine, and Louis king 
of Bavaria. Bernard, king of Italy, was offended at this 
division. As the law of descents was not the same in that, 
as in the present age; or rather, as the rule was then unset- 
tled; -he thought his right to the empire superior to the claim 
of Lothaire; as his father, Pepin, was the elder brother of 
Louis. In contempt of the imperial authority, to which his 
crown was subject, he levied war against his uncle. But 
the malcontent prince, having been abandoned by his army, 
was made prisoner, and condemned to lose his head: his 
uncle, however, by a singular kind of lenity, mitigated the 
sentence to the loss of his eyes, which were bored out; — a 
common mode of punishment, at that time, in France. A 
few days after this cruelty was inflicted, Bernard died; and 
Louis, to prevent future trouble, ordered three natural sons 
of Charlemagne to be shut up in a convent 

The emperor was soon seized with keen remorse. At the 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. $5 

Ealace of Attigni, on the river Aisne, he impeached himself 
efore an assembly of the states, and requested the bishops 
to enjoin him public penance; in consequence of which, the 
popes disregarded his authority, the bishops exalted them- 
selves above the throne, and the whole fraternity of the 
church claimed exemption from all civil jurisdiction. 
g2 * Louis had married a second wife, who brought him 
a son; afterwards known by the name of Charles the 
Bald. She urged the king to place him on an equality with 
his other children: Lothaire consented to resign a part of 
his dominions to Charles, but soon repented of his conces- 
sion; and the three brothers, by a most unnatural association, 
joined in a rebellion against their father. The emperor was 
abandoned by his army, and made prisoner, with Ms wife 
g 30 and his son Charles. The empress was shut up in 
a cloister; and Louis himself would have been con- 
strained to assume the monastic habit, had it not been sup- 
posed that he would make a voluntary resignation of his 
crown. But he was treated with more lenity by his subjects, 
than by his children. Having acknowledged his errors, and 
promised to act with more circumspection, in future, the 
nobility pitied their humbled sovereign; and Louis was not 
only restored to his dignity, but seemingly reconciled to his 
rebellious sons. 

The first use, made by the emperor, of his liberty, was to 
recall his consort; though not without the license of the pope; 
as she had formally taken the veil. But tranquillity was 
not long enjoyed by Louis. The empress brought her ani- 
mosities to court. Her enemies were persecuted, Lothaire 
was deprived of the title of emperor, that the succession 
might be reserved for her son Charles; the three brothers 
formed a new league against their father; Gregory IV., then 
pope, went to France, in the army of Lothaire; and, after a 
deceitful negotiation, and an interview with Gregory, on 
the part of Lothaire, the unfortunate Louis was deposed, 
g^ rt in a tumultuous assembly, and Lothaire proclaimed, 
in his stead. 
Louis was then a prisoner, in a monastery, at Soissonsj 
and, being much intimidated, he patiently submitted to a 
ceremony, not less solemn, than debasing. He prostrated 
himself upon a hair-cloth, spread before the altar; owned 
himself guilty of the charges brought against him; read aloud 
a written confession, in which he was made to accuse him- 



36 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

self of sacrilege and murder; and to number amongst his 
crimes the marching of troops in lent, and the taking up of 
arms, to defend himself against his rebellious children: then, 
by order of the archbishop, he laid aside his sword and belt, 
divested himself of his royal robes, put on the penitential 
sackcloth, and was conducted to a cell. 
gr , 4 But affairs soon changed, in favour of the degraded 
monarch. Lothaire became an object of general ab- 
horrence; his father Louis, of compassion. His two brothers 
united against him, in behalf of their much injured father; 
the nobility returned to their allegiance, and the ambitious 
Lothaire was obliged to crave mercy, in view of the whole 
army, at his father's feet. 

Meanwhile, France was not wholly disengaged from 
foreign wars. Lothaire and his brother Pepin marched 
with an army, to prevent an invasion, by the Saracens, of 
Spain; and assistance was sent, by Louis, to the Neapolitans, 
(then under the government of the emperor of the East,) 
whom the Saracens of Africa threatened to. attack. Louis 
despatched a fleet, under the command of count Boniface; 
who made a descent upon Africa, between Utica and Car- 
thage. He was at first successful. He defeated an army of the 
Saracens: but, unable to advance a single step into the coun- 
try, without meeting fresh armies, the very defeat of which 
would have destroyed his own troops, he re-embarked. 
R4ft Louis died, near Mentz, in the sixty -fourth year 
of his age, and the twenty-seventh of his reign. He 
had an agreeable countenance and deportment, was of a 
middling stature, but well proportioned; and possessed an 
extraordinary strength of body. 

By too much affability and deference to the ecclesiastics, 
of whom his court was always full, he became contemptible 
in their eyes, and exposed to indignities, which he was forced 
to bear. He raised several persons of mean birth to the 
prelacy; who thereby became insolent. He had a great 
share of piety, but an equal littleness of spirit; and was 
fond of the church devotion, and the reading of holy books, 
to such a degree, as to neglect the business of state. 

Charlemagne had given him a learned education. He 
understood Greek; a necessary acquirement, at that time, on 
account of the frequent embassies from Constantinople to 
the court of France; and spoke Latin, as fluently as his 
native tongue. 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 37 

It is difficult, if not impossible, to render the history of 
the early ages of France, interesting. The incidents of one 
reign, seem a monotonous repetition of the events that have 
preceded. Revolts and invasions; rebellions of children 
against their parents; contentions amongst brothers; assas- 
sinations of kindred; and encroachments of the popes and 
bishops; are almost the only materials for the historian, 
arising out of those times of barbarism and superstition. 

When the late king had become conscious of approaching 
death, he set apart a crown, a sword, and a golden sceptre, 
for Lothaire; and ordered them to be delivered into the 
prince's hands. To send him those insignia of empire^ was 
to declare him emperor; but the present was accompanied 
with these conditions, — that he observed his engagement 
with his half-brother, Charles, and the empress; and gave 
them no trouble about that part of the succession, which he 
had yielded to them with the solemnity of an oath. 

But oaths are not sufficient to bind a person of inordinate 
ambition. They are broken by him, with the same facility 
that they are taken. No sooner had Lothaire seen his father 
dead, than he designed to make himself master of the whole 
empire. 

84£ , After many sanguinary battles, in which Lothaire 
was defeated, an accommodation was entered into, at 
Verdun. Louis and Charles yielded much, for the sake of 
peace; and consented to a new division of the empire. To 
Louis, king of Bavaria, was assigned all the country, belong- 
ing to the French empire, beyond the Rhine, together with 
the cities of Spires, Worms, and Mentz; and hence, we 
shall hereafter style him king of Germany. To Lothaire, 
besides Italy, with the title of emperor, were given, all the 
country between the Rhine and the Schelde, Haynault and 
Cambresis, and some other countries on this side of the 
Maese; from the head of that river, to the confluence of the 
Saone and Rhone; and, from that point, all the Rhone, as 
far as the sea, with the countries on both sides. Charles 
had all the rest of France, and bore the title of king of 
France. 

g 44 The Normans did not fail to profit by the conten- 
tions of the brothers. We have already glanced at 
the descent made upon the territory of France, by parties 
of this nation; but never had that warlike people appeared 
so formidable, as in the present year. Every river, in the 
D 



58 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

northern and western districts of the empire, was now pene- 
trated, by their innumerable vessels: but their most consi- 
derable expedition, was conducted by a leader named 
Regnier, wno entered the Seine, with a fleet of six-hundred 
ships ; and, after terrifying the inhabitants of Rouen, so as 
to cause their surrender, proceeded, without meeting any 
resistance, to the city of Paris, which was abandoned, on 
his approach. 

That capital, and the surrounding country, became a 
scene of pillage and dismay. But the gold, by which the 
invaders were induced to retire from Paris, proved only a 
momentary relief. Like the ransoms, paid to the Vandalic 
spoilers of ancient Rome, it invited them to renew, rather 
than to discontinue, their hostile visits. They committed 
still further ravages, at Bourdeaux and Xaintes, and also, 
in Friseland; where their descents were so unexpected, and 
their victories so easily obtained, that they were to be seen, 
in different places, almost at the same time; and, if the in- 
habitants were not alarmed by their actual presence, they 
were terrified by the expectation of their immediate approach. 
n.r. Nor were the Saracens much less active, in their 
plundering excursions, than the pirates of the north. 
They entered the Tiber, defeated a party of the emperor's 
troops, and pillaged St. Peter's church, at the very gates of 
Rome. 

8 -£ Having brought his affairs into such a condition, as 
to fear nothing from his neighbours, Lothaire left 
Italy, and made a journey into his dominions, on the north 
side of the Alps. This was the last movement of his life. 
He was struck, with a mortal distemper; and the recollec- 
tion of the many evils he had caused to the French empire, 
harrowed up his soul. Though he had lived a tyrant, he 
determined to die a saint. - He ordered himself to be carried 
*o the abbey of Prum, in the Ardennes; where he renounced 
the imperial dignity, had his head shaved, and assumed the 
habit of a monk; rather, we are inclined to suppose, to die 
in that character, than to pass his life in penitence; for his 
disease was beyond the power of medicine. — Six days after- 
wards, he breathed his last, in the fifteenth year of his reign, 
and sixtieth of his age. 

As a curious monument of the ancient Roman language, 
(being a corruption of the Latin tongue) then spoken by the 
French, and from which their present language is derived, 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 39 

we have placed, in a note, a copy of an oath, taken by 
Louis, king of Bavaria, as a vassal of his brother Charles.* 

The French empire had been already much weakened, by 
the division amongst the three sons of Louis the Debonnaire. 
It was yet more enfeebled, by a new division, of that part 
which Lothaire, the emperor, had possessed, amongst his 
children; and still further, by the subsequent assignment of 
Aquitaine, by the king of France, to his son Charles. The 
raising of the latter to a throne, made a sixth king in the 
French empire; three of whom had the name of" Charles, and 
two that of Louis. The territory held by Lothaire, was 
called, in Latin, Lotharingia; afterwards, in French, Lor- 
raine: so that this name, now given to a province of less 
extent, is derived from the name of that prince. 
ft7 _ The death of the emperor, Louis II., without male 
* issue, was an event of some importance; and caused 
no small degree of intrigue, amongst the several members of 
the royal family. At length, the superior address of Charles 
the Bald, aided by the favours of the Roman pontiff, gained 
the imperial title and dominions for himself. He was 
crowned, by the pope, in St. Peter's church, at Rome, on 
Christmas day; the festival on which his grandfather, Char- 
lemagne, had received the imperial crown, in the same 
church. 

Various circumstances show, that the clergy now aspired 
to the right of disposing of crowns; a right founded by them 
on the custom of anointing kings. They employed both 
fictions and sophisms, to make themselves independent. 
They refused to take the oath of fealty; because sacred 
hands, could not, without abomination,* submit to hands 
impure! One superstition produced another. Everything 

* " Pro don amur, et pro Christian poblo et nostro commun salva- 
ment, dist di en avant, in quant Deus savir et poter me dunat, si sal- 
varai eo cest meon fradra Karlo, et en adjudha et in cadhuna cosa, si 
cum horn per dreit son fradra salvar dist, ino quid il imi altro si faret; et 
ab Ludher nul plaid nunquam prindrai, qui meon vol cist meon fradre 
Karle in damno sit." 

In English : " For the love of God and of the Christian people, and 
for our common safety, from this day forward, so long as God shall 
give me knowledge and power, I will defend my brother Charles, and 
will assist him, in every thing, as a man, by right, ought to defend his 
brother, because he would do as much for me ; and I will enter into no 
treaty with Lothaire, that, by my inclination, shall prove prejudicial to 
my brother Charles." 



40 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

was sanctified by ignorance. We may, therefore, certainly 
conclude, that the usurpations of the clergy, were, in a 
great measure, caused by the abject superstition of the peo- 
ple, — equally blind, wicked, and devout. 
R „~ Louis, king of Germany, brother of Charles the 
' * Bald, was succeeded by his three sons,— -Carloman, 
Louis, and Charles; each of whom entered into that part of 
his dominions, which had been assigned to him. Carloman 
was called king of Bavaria; Louis, of Germany; Charles, 
of Allemania. But this division, however satisfactory to 
the brothers, was not acquiesced in by their uncle, Charles 
the Bald. He demanded a share in "the succession, and a 
restitution of part of Lorraine, formerly wrested from him, 
by their father. Having amused the king of Germany with 
a treaty, Charles insidiously advanced against his nephew, 
and a battle was fought, near Megen, in which the empe- 
ror's army was completely routed. The horror of being in 
the dark, in a country with which the invaders were unac- 
quainted, increased their consternation; and the emperor 
was obliged to fly, that he might not be surrounded. 

The slaughter, made in the pursuit, was dreadful. A 
great number of prisoners was taken, and the emperor ar- 
rived, almost alone, at the monastery of St. Lambert, on the 
Meuse. 

fi7>r Charles was not allowed to have a long repose. 
Having provided, in the best way that circumstances 
would permit, for the safety of the country lying near the 
Seine, against the Normans, he led an army towards Italy; 
in conformity with a promise, made some time before, by 
him, to the pope. But, he did not reach the country of his 
destination. He fell sick, on the road; was poisoned, by a 
treacherous physician; and died at Brios, a small village, at 
the foot of Mount Cenis, in the second year of his empire, 
and the thirty-eighth of his entire reign, aged fifty-four. 

He was a prince, brought sometimes by misfortune, and 
at other times by want of conduct, to the brink of ruin. 
He possessed much less courage, than artifice and cunning. 
His reign, as well as that of his father, Louis the Debon- 
naire, was the reign of the bishops. He was not, however, 
wholly destitute of praise; being commended for his love of 
letters, and of learned men. He was the most powerful of 
all the princes of his family; and, after him, none of Char- 
lemagne's posterity, in France, had so extensive a dominion. 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 41 

Louis II., only son of Charles the Bald, surnamed the 
Stammerer, from" an impediment in his speech, majr be said 
to have purchased the crown of France, at the price, and 
on the conditions, imposed upon him by the nobility and 
bishops. 

8 ^q The reign of Louis was very short. He lived only 
eighteen months, after ascending the throne; and was 
succeeded by Louis III. and Carloman II., Ins two sons, by 
a wife whom he had divorced. 

On the death of the joint kings of France, their half- 
brother, Charles, born after his father's death, and known by 
the name of the Simple, ought to have succeeded to the 
monarchy, by the right of birth: but, as he was very young, 
qo 4 the nobles elected Charles the Fat (son of Louis the 
German) already emperor, and successor to his two 
brothers. He re-united, in his person, all the French em- 
pire, except Provence, which had been erected into a new 
kingdom, by the intrigues of duke Boson (father-in-law of 
Carloman;) who was placed upon the throne, and fixed his 
residence at Aries. 

The incapacity, and even cowardice of Charles, soon be- 
came too obvious to be denied. After disgracing himself, 
by ceding Friseland to the Normans, and promising them a 
tract of land for their forbearance, he roused them by his 
perfidy, and encouraged them by his weakness. Enraged 
at the death of their king, who had been invited to a con- 
ference, and murdered, they entered France, burned Pon- 
toise, and besieged Paris. 

oop This siege is much celebrated by the French his- 
torians. Eudes, count of Paris, who afterwards 
ascended the throne of France; his brother Robert; bishop 
Gosselin; and his nephew, abbot Eble; were particularly 
distinguished, by their patriotism and valour. The besieged 
defended themselves, for a whole year, against an army of 
thirty-thousand men. At length, Charles appeared, with a 
great force, for its relief; fully persuaded, that the sight of 
his standard, would induce the Normans to retire. But he 
was soon made sensible of his error. They did not discover 
the slightest alarm. What, therefore, he could not accom- 
plish by force, he purchased with his gold. He engaged to 
pay them a large ransom, for the safety of his capital and 
kingdom; and, what was still more disgraceful, he stipulated 
that the Normans should winter in Burgundy, which had 
d 2 



42 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

not yet acknowledged his authority; and in which they con- 
tinued their ravages, with the most insatiable fury. 

The emperor's reputation, already very low, was, by this 
ignominious treaty, entirely ruined. He had no minister, 
in whom he could confide; for he was neither loved nor 
feared. The Germans first revolted; a prosecution, com- 
menced by him against the empress Richilda, completed 
ogg his disgrace; and he was at length deposed, in a diet 
of the empire, and to so great a degree neglected, as 
to be obliged to subsist by the liberality of the archbishop 
of Mentz. 

Arnold, a natural son of Carloman, king of Bavaria, and 
grandson of Louis the German, was now raised to the im- 
perial throne. Count Eudes, whose valour had saved Paris, 
and whose father, Robert the Strong, had been no less brave, 
than illustrious, was chosen king of France; a dignity which 
he agreed to hold, in trust, for Charles the Simple, yet a 
minor. 

The high reputation of Eudes did not exempt him from 
being attacked, by the Normans. He was harassed by them, 
on all sides. An army of ten-thousand of that nation having 
got into the narrow lanes, near the town of Montfaucon, he 
sallied out of a wood, where he had been lying in ambuscade, 
with a thousand horse, and charged them, with so much im- 
petuosity and courage, that they were entirely dispersed. 
oq R After the death of Eudes, Charles the Simple, 

now acknowledged king of France, in his own right, 
increased, by his weakness, the prevailing evils. The 
nobles openly aspired at independence. They usurped the 
governments with which they had been intrusted; and extort- 
ed confirmation of them, from Charles, for themselves and 
their heirs, on the easy condition of an empty homage. A 
large and well regulated kingdom was thus divided into a 
multitude of separate principalities, altogether independent 
of the crown, or dependent only in name; the possessors of 
which waged continual wars against eacli other, and exercised 
insupportable tyranny over their unhappy vassals. 

The most powerful lords of the kingdom, at that time, 
seem to have been Foulk, archbishop of Rheims, Herbert, 
count of Vermandois, and Robert, brother of the late king. 

The Normans were not inattentive spectators of these 
events. They took advantage of the state of anarchy and 
weakness, to establish themselves in France 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 43 

Rollo, one of their most illustrious leaders, after having 
spread terror over all the maritime provinces of Europe, 
sailed up the Seine, fixed his head-quarters at Rouen, and 
soon became so formidable, that Charles offered him his 
daughter, in marriage, with a part of Neustria, as her 
dowry. The archbishop of Rouen was charged with the ne- 
gotiation. He demanded only that Rollo should become a 
Christian. The Norman was influenced more by worldly 
Q11 considerations, than religion. After consulting his 
soldiers, he agreed to the treaty; on condition that 
Brittany also should be ceded to him, till Neustria, then 
entirely laid waste by his countrymen, should be restored to 
cultivation. His request was granted : he was then baptized, 
by the name of Robert — nearly all his army following his 
example — and did homage for his crown; less as a vassal, 
than a victor. 

Rollo proved himself equally skilled in the arts of peace, 
as those of war. The country ceded to him (thenceforth call- 
ed Normandy, in honour of its new inhabitants) soon became 
flourishing and happy. He invited a great number of Scan- 
dinavians, to colonize his dominions; and, in a short time, 
not only was the new dutchy populous and well cultivated, 
but the Normans were regular in their manners, and obedient 
to the laws. A band of pirates became good citizens, and 
their leader the ablest prince of the age in which he lived. 

The only flaw in the character of Rollo, was, his barbarity 
to his wife; who, in consequence of ill treatment, died of a 
broken heart: and when Charles sent two officers to remon- 
strate with him on the impropriety of his conduct, he had 
them both put to death. 

Meanwhile, great alterations occurred, in the neighbouring 
states, and amongst the princes of the blood of Charlemagne. 
The emperor Arnold was succeeded by his son Louis IV.; 
and, on the decease of Louis, without male issue, the empire 
departed from the French, to the Germans; from the family 
of Charlemagne, to those Saxons, whom he had subjected 
and persecuted; who became, in their turn, the persecutors 
of other pagans. 

q 12 Conrad was the first German, that ruled the empire, 
after it had ceased to be an appendage of France. 

There being no longer any French prince, on any throne, 
beyond the Alps, or beyond the Rhine, this history will, for 
the future, be confined to the affairs of France. 



44 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

Though the successors of Charlemagne possessed the 
empire which he had formed, by virtue of hereditary descent, 
they had usually procured the sanction of the nobles to their 
testamentary deeds, that no disputes might arise, with re- 
gard to the succession, after their death. This precaution 
was highly necessary, in those turbulent ages. But, what 
was, at first, only a politic condescension of the emperors, 
the nobles converted into a privilege ; and hence originated 
the right of those electors, by whom the emperor was, until 
very lately, invested with the imperial powers. 

Thus authorized, by custom, the German nobility assem- 
bled at Worms, on the death of Louis IV. ; and, not judging 
Charles the Simple worthy to govern them, they elected 
Conrad, duke of Franconia. 

This right of choosing an emperor, originally enjoyed by 
all the members of the Germanic body, was afterwards con- 
fined to eight of the chief members, — the archbishops of 
Mentz, Cologne, and Treves, the king of Bohemia, the duke 
of Saxony, the marquis of Brandenburg, (afterwards king of 
Prussia,) the count palatine of the Rhine, and the duke of 
Hanover, afterwards king of England. 
g 20 The misfortunes of the imbecile Charles, did not 
. terminate with the cession to the Normans. The 
throne itself was at length transferred to another. Indig- 
nant at the- favours shown, by him, to his minister Hagano, 
a person of mean birth, several of the most influential nobles, 
at the head of whom was duke Robert, brother of the late 
king Eudes, joined in a rebellion, declared Charles unworthy 
to be their king, and raised Robert to the throne. A san- 
guinary battle was fought, near Soissons. The king and the 
usurper both signalized their courage. But Robert was 
killed; some historians say by count Gulbert, who carried 
the royal standard; others, by the king himself; who thrust 
his lance into his mouth. 

The death of the hostile chief, did not, however, give the 
victory to the king. Hugh the Great, Robert's son, (thus 
named, by reason of his lofty stature,) reanimated the dis- 
heartened troops, and charged the king- s army, with so much 
fury, that he put the whole to the rout, and caused the king 
himself to commit his safety to an ignoble flight. 
q „ The crown was now offered to Hugh the Great: but 

~°* he declined it, and procured it for Rodolph, duke of 
Burgundy, who had married Ms sister; and was of course 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 45 

the son-in-law of Robert. The imprisonment of the unhappy 
Charles, which immediately followed, ended only with Ids 
death. His queen, Ogiva, daughter of Edward the Elder, 
king of England, and grand-daughter of the great Alfred, 
escaped into her father's kingdom, with the young prince 
Louis, her son, then only three years old. 

It would be difficult, to select a period, more crowded 
with disturbances, than the reign of Rodolph. The intrigues 
of the count of Vermandois, to whose treachery towards the 
late king, Rodolph was chiefly indebted for the crown, 
caused the new monarch to sit very uneasily on his throne. 
No honours, no immunities, no aggrandizements of territory, 
were thought equivalent to the treason, committed against 
his old master, and the services rendered to the new. But, 
notwithstanding the turbulent disposition of Vermandois, 
together with the hostilities of the duke of Normandy, and 
q n c. the king of Germany, Rodolph resigned the sceptre 
only with his life. A reign of thirty years, during 
which he had to contend against all the disadvantages of 
usurpation, shows him to have been a prince of consummate 
abilities and prudence. 

No sooner was the death of Rodolph known, in England, 
than the widow of Charles the Simple, and her son Louis, 
employed their partisans in France, to obtain a restoration 
of the crown, to the posterity of Charlemagne. Athelstan, 
king of England, the queen's brother, and uncle to Louis, 
engaged William, duke of Normandy, to use his friendly 
offices with Hugh the Great, and the count of Vermandois, 
in favour of the prince. The interposition was successful. 
After an exile of thirteen years, young Louis landed at 
Bologne, whence he was conducted to Laon: where he was 
crowned and anointed, by the archbishop of Rheims. 

It was not to be expected, that a youth of sixteen, but 
slightly acquainted with the affairs of France, would be fully 
equal to the administration of its government; yet he con- 
ducted himself with a spirit becoming his rank; though not 
without some degree of that imprudence which was natural 
to his age. 

He attempted to rescue himself from the tyranny of duke 
Hugh; who allowed him little more than the name of king. 
But in this, he was defeated. After a variety of struggles, 
he was constrained to make peace with his powerful vassal, 
and cede to him the country of Laon,. 



46 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

g43 The death of William the First, duke of Norman- 
dy, who was assassinated, after a conference, by the 
order of Arnulph, count of Flanders, caused a great many 
intrigues, in France. He left Richard, his son, a very 
young child, his successor. Upon this occasion, the king 
expressed a great deal of grief; and, having gone to Rouen, 
he assured the Normans, that he would severely revenge 
the murder of their duke. But, Louis had another design. 
He wished to secure the young duke's person, and drive the 
Normans out of France, They were not, however, without 
suspicion, that something unfair was intended. An insur- 
rection of the people was excited; in which, the king incur- 
red the risk of his life: but, he at length prevailed; and the 
Normans consented to let him take their prince, and educate 
him at his own court. 

The design of the king, however, was defeated, by the 
escape of the young duke. Disguised in the habit of a 
groom, Osman, his governor, carried him away, one evening, 
on his shoulders, in a truss of hay. 

A war soon afterwards ensued, between the French and 
Normans. The army of Louis, being surprised at Rouen, 
was quickly routed; and, unfortunately for this prince, the 
bridle of his horse having been cut, in the battle, he could 
no longer manage him, was pursued, and taken prisoner. 
An opportunity of enlargement, was, however, soon afford ed^ 
Eager to pillage the baggage of the French army, the guards 
that were placed upon him, rambled too far; and Louis 
mounted one of their horses, and escaped. But he was not 
yet out of danger. He was again taken. He was recog- 
nised, in his flight, by a Norman soldier; and the king, 
having no arms, was forced to yield. Induced, however, 
by the liberal promises made to him, by the captive monarch, 
the soldier did not inform his comrades of the greatness of 
his prize, but concealed him, in an island, on the Seine. 

This was a painful situation for a king. He continued 
there for some time; but the soldier, being suspected, was 
taken into custody; his horses, his goods, of all kinds, with 
his wife and children, were seized; and every thing he pos- 
sessed, was threatened with confiscation, if he did not dis- 
cover where the king was hidden. The penalty overcame 
his resolution. He led a party of the Normans to the place 
of concealment, and Louis was again retaken. 

The captors did not fail to profit by the possession of the 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 47 

king. They made him swear, that he yielded anew, and 
confirmed to Richard, all that had been yielded to his grand- 
father, Rollo: and it was stipulated that neither Richard, 
nor his successors, should owe service for Normandy, except 
to God alone ; so that the subjection of the duke, was thereby 
reduced to simple homage. 

What the nature of this homage was, may not be fully 
known, to the majority of readers. It is thus described, in 
the English law-books, and is not unworthy of attention: — 
" Besides an oath of fealty, or profession of faith to the lord, 
which was the parent of our oath of allegiance, the vassal or 
tenant, upon investiture, did usually homage to his lord; 
openly and humbly kneeling, being ungirt and uncovered, 
and holding up his hands both together, between those of 
the lord, who sat before him; and there professing, that he 
did become his man, from that day forth, of life, and limb, 
and earthly honour: and then he received a kiss, from his 
lord: — which ceremony was denominated homagium, or 
-manhood, by the feudists." 

But the homage of a proud and powerful chieftain, such 
as the duke of Normandy, was more frequently performed 
by a representative, than by the vassal himself. 
q- 4 Louis died, in the thirty-seventh year of his age, 
and eighteenth of his reign, in consequence of a fall 
from his horse, when hunting a wolf, on the banks of the 
river Aisne. He left a shadow of power, to his son Lothaire : 
or rather, Hugh the Great was pleased to grant him the 
title of king, that he himself might enjoy the power. 

The late king left two sons, — Lothaire and Charles; the 
former, about fourteen years, the latter, about one year old. 

Notwithstanding the vast power of Hugh the Great, and 
the desire probably felt, by him, of having one of his family 
again placed upon the throne, it was yet an enterprise which 
he durst not undertake. Three years before his death, 
Louis had wisely used the precaution to associate his eldest 
son, Lothaire, in the government, and have him recognised 
as king of France; so that Hugh chose rather to preserve to 
himself the power of a king, than to dispute about the title. 
In return for his promised friendship, he was made duke of 
Aquitaine; though he already enjoyed the honours of duke 
of France and duke of Burgundy, count of Orleans and 
Paris. He did not, however, long survive the honour last 
conferred upon him. As he was preparing for a campaign 



48 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

OKA against the inhabitants of Aquitaine, in order to obtain 
possession of that dutchy, he died at Dourdan. 

This ambitious nobleman, not less formidable than the 
ancient mayors, was succeeded, in importance and abilities, 
by his eldest son Hugh, surnamed Capet. 

Many of the vassals of Lothaire, held more towns and 
estates, than he possessed himself. He was reduced almost 
to the single city of Laon. One of his chief employments 
was to be the spectator, and sometimes the arbiter, of petty 
wars, which all those haughty nobles, were continually 
waging against each other. Sometimes, they surprised a 
city — sometimes, they took possession of a little town, be- 
longing to a neighbour. At another time, this neighbour, 
by way of reprisal, sent whole companies of robbers against 
the estates of the first aggressor, to pillage them. Nor was 
the king himself exempt from these inroads. He was in- 
sulted, in the same manner, and defended himself in the 
same way; this day, joining the side of one lord — the next 
day, of another. 

A war with Normandy, commenced for the purpose of 
conquering that dutchy, was less alarming to the French, 
than an invasion by the Germans. Enraged at the ravages, 
committed upon his territory, by Lothaire, the emperor 
Otho entered France, with an army of sixty-thousand men, 
penetrated as far as Paris, burned part of the suburbs, and 
remained encamped before the city, until he learned that 
the king was approaching, with a large body of forces, to 
intercept his return. 
q ftMK Lothaire died, at Rheims, in the forty-sixth year of 

' * his age, and thirty-second of a nominal reign; having 
had, after the example of his father, his eldest son, Louis, 
recognised, during his life-time, as king. 

We have already mentioned, that, before the accession of 
Clovis, learning flourished in Gaul, and that the Latin was 
the vulgar language of the country. But, under the suc- 
cessors of that prince, literature greatly declined; the Latin 
tongue became gradually corrupted, and, before the end of 
the Merovingian dynasty, it ceased to be the common lan- 
guage of France. It was succeeded by the Romance — a 
mixture of the Frankish dialect and bad Latin — which was 
the language of France, in the reign of Charlemagne, and 
in those of his descendants; and, indeed, with many and 
gradual variations, for several centuries afterwards. 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 49 

Great, were the efforts of Charlemagne, for the revival 
of learning, in his dominions. But, after the death of that en- 
lightened monarch, the mists of ignorance, arising from the 
evils of anarchy, overspread the minds of men; literature, 
sciences, and civilization, were obscured, in the universal 
gloom. The period in which the Carlovingian dynasty 
ended, was the age of ignorance, in Europe. So profound 
was it, that scarcely did kings, or princes, or lords, much 
less the common people, know how to read. Hence, in a 
great measure, arose, the influence which the clergy began 
to acquire in temporal affairs; as they were the only persons 
that had any knowledge of letters. 

Louis V., during a short and turbulent reign of fifteen 
months, governed, under the direction of Hugh Capet. 

He left no children, to succeed him; and was the last 
king of France, of the Carlovingians, or descendants of 
Charlemagne; who had occupied the throne two-hundred - 
and-thirty-seven years. 

The kings of this family had seldom any fixed residence, 
but were constantly travelling about, accompanied by their 
wives. Charles Martel and Pepin, when not in the field, 
resided most frequently at Paris; Charlemagne and his son, 
at Aix-la-Chapelle or Thionville; Charles the Bald, at 
Soissons or Compiegne; Charles the Simple, at Rheims; and 
Louis the Stranger, at Laon, the only place of strength in 
hrs dominions. 

CHAPTER III. 

THE THIRD, OR CAPETIAN RACE OF KINGS. 

HUGH CAPET. 

987—996. 

CHARLES, duke of Lorraine, uncle of the late king, 
was his natural heir, and, according to monarchal rules, 
should have ascended the throne, after his nephew. But 
the aversion and contempt, conceived, in regard to Charles, 
by the French nation, for having made himself a vassal to 
the emperor of Germany; the hatred of the queen, whose 
reputation he had blackened, with most scandalous detrac- 
tion; the unexpected death of the young king; and the af- 



50 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

fection of the nobles for Hugh Capet, owing to his valour 
and prudence, in the two preceding reigns; were the princi- 
pal causes of raising the latter to the throne, and of exclud- 
ing the natural heir to the crown. 

A victory, gained by Hugh, over the duke of Guyenne, 
who had espoused the side of Charles, was a decisive stroke, 
in the present situation of his affairs. He did not neglect 
using his good fortune, to the best advantage. He soon 
afterwards obtained the consent of the lords, to make his son 
Robert a partner with him in the government; and, by that 
means, to secure to him the succession to the crown. 

But Charles, though his fortune was now low, despaired 
not of ultimate success. He besieged and took Laon, then 
one of the strongest places in the kingdom; and there made 
prisoners the queen, and the bishop of Laon, his bitterest 
enemies. 

Though Hugh Capet failed in reducing the place, by open 
force, he nevertheless got possession of it by surprise. Not 
having been kept in strict confinement, the bishop had given 
notice to the besieged, of the negligence with which the 
town was guarded; and, acting upon this advice, Hugh con- 
ducted his measures so well, that he surprised it, in the 
night. Charles fell into his rival's hands, was carried to 
Orleans, and soon afterwards died there, in prison; leaving 
Hugh Capet in quiet possession of the crown, 
ggg This prince died, in the fifty-seventh year of his 
age, and the tenth year of his reign. 

Though conspicuous for his valour, he was still more dis- 
tinguished for his good management and prudence. He had 
the extraordinary honour of establishing a new family, and 
in some measure, a new form of government, with few cir- 
cumstances of violence, and without the effusion of blood; 
and left a throne, to his posterity, upon which they are now 
seated, after a lapse of more than eight-hundred years. 

By uniting to the crown, the dutchy of France, he again 
established the ordinary residence of the French kings at 
Paris; where it had been fixed by Clovis: but from which it 
had been diverted, during all the reigns of the second race. 

France, from its dismembered state, was involved, during 
the reign of Hugh Capet, in poverty and barbarism. While 
the Greeks and Italians were famous for their beautiful 
manufactures, the French were unable to imitate them; as 
their cities were unchartered, and their country disunited. 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 51 

Internal commerce was scarcely known; and the inhabitants 
of one province were frequently strangers to the distance 
and situation of the next. Few people could read, and still 
fewer could write: there were no title-deeds of estates, and 
no deeds or registers of marriages. 

ROBERT. 

996—1031. 

The most remarkable circumstance, in the reign of Robert, 
is Ms excommunication, by the pope. He had espoused 
Bertha, his cousin in the fourth degree; a marriage not only 
lawful, according to our ideas, in the present age, and jus- 
tified by the practice of all nations, but in this instance, 
Bertha being a sister of the duke of Burgundy, expedient 
for the welfare of the state. 

But the clergy, amongst their other usurpations, at this 
time, laid the most essential of civil engagements under 
spiritual prohibition; which extended even to the seventh 
degree of consanguinity. Gregory V., therefore, undertook 
to dissolve the marriage between Robert and Bertha, though 
it had been authorized by seven bishops; and published an 
arbitrary decree, which enjoined the separation of the king 
and queen. As Robert persisted in keeping his wife, he 
incurred the sentence of excommunication; which had such 
an effect upon the minds of men, that the king was aban- 
doned by all his court, and even by all his domestics, except 
two. Even these threw, to the dogs, all the food left by 
their master after his meals; and purified, with fire, the 
vessels in which he had been served. 

The want of firmness, in the king, with regard to this 
distressing affair, is much to be lamented. Yielding to 
superstitious terrors, or afraid of civil commotions, he at last 
repudiated Bertha, and married Constance, a daughter of 
the count of Aries; in whom, he found an imperious ter- 
magant, instead of an amiable consort. Hugh de Beauvais, 
prime minister, enjoyed the confidence of his master; and 
to him he communicated the anxiety and uneasiness which 
he experienced, from the misconduct of his wife. This was 
sufficient to make de Beauvais an object of her hatred and 
revenge: she accordingly had him assassinated, in presence 
of her husband, who in vain endeavoured to save his 
favourite's life. 



5Z HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

1 -, . Robert died, after a reign of thirty-five years, in 

the sixtieth year of his age; leaving three sons, — 
Henry, Robert, and Eudes. 

The good works, in which he employed himself, without 
neglecting his several duties; and, above all, his great charity 
to the poor; gained him the surname of Devout; and his 
moderation, that of saint. He daily distributed food to 
three -hundred poor people, and sometimes to a thousand. 
Every Holy Thursday, he served them on his knees, and, 
being clothed in sackcloth, washed their feet. But his 
compassion for the poor sometimes betrayed him into acts 
of injustice. We are told, that, when he had no money to 
give them, he would tell them to go and steal, and would 
be angry if they were prevented. Helgaud, the monk, says, 
that rogues, under a pretence of begging, would frequently 
follow him into his apartment, and take from him whatever 
was of value, either in his pockets, or on his clothes. One 
of them, having cut off the half of a piece of gold fringe, 
was in the act of taking away the rest, when the king mildly 
requested him to be contented with what he had, and to 
leave the remainder, to satisfy the wants of his companions. 

Notwithstanding the efforts of this prince to render his 
subjects happy, he had the misfortune to see his kingdom, 
several times, a prey to famine. The first was general, 
throughout Europe; but the second was confined to France, 
where it was attended with circumstances peculiarly hor- 
rid. There were people raging with hunger, in so dread- 
ful a degree, that they dug up the dead bodies to eat: 
others seized upon the children in the streets, or way-laid 
the travellers in the fields and woods. At Tournus, in 
Burgundy, a butcher exposed human flesh to public sale; 
but a stop was put to this horrible traffic, and the brute who 
had carried it on, was condemned to the flames. Another 
man, who kept a public house, in a forest, near Macon, 
murdered his guests, and eat them. He was detected by 
two passengers, who were lucky enough to effect their 
escape; and, when his house was searched, eight-and-forty 
heads of men, women, and children, whose bodies had been 
devoured, were found; and the barbarous wretch experienced 
the same punishment as the butcher. 



HISTORY OP FRANCE. 55 

HENRY I. 

1031—1060. 

Henry I. the eldest son of the last king, was twenty- 
live years of age, at his accession to the throne. With all 
the spirit of a young man, he had the sagacity and prudence 
of one advanced in years; without which, the crown would 
soon have been shaken from his head. His mother, Con- 
stance, who had conceived towards him a most violent 
aversion, had drawn over, to her side, a number of lords 
and bishops, for the purpose of enabling her to place his 
younger brother, Robert, upon the throne. Henry, there- 
fore, after some ineffectual struggling, was compelled to 
take refuge in Normandy; where he was well received, by 
the reigning duke; who, having assisted the exiled monarch 
with an army, the queen dowager and her faction were 
humbled, and Henry recovered all that he had lost. 

The year had not expired, before he was obliged to take 
a part in a contest for the succession to the duchy of Nor- 
mandy. 

Following the impulse of a sort of devotion, then very 
much in fashion, Robert II. resolved to make a pilgrimage 
to Jerusalem. He had no legitimate children; but only a 
natural son, then nine years of age, afterwards so famous, 
under the name of William the Conqueror; who had been 
recognised as his successor, by the lords of Normandy, and 
placed under the protection of the king of France. 
- „^ 5 These wise precautions were not unnecessary; as 

Robert died, at Nice, in his return from the Holy 
Land. The dutchy was soon overspread with civil war. 
The king went, in person, to join duke William; and a 
sanguinary engagement followed, in the valley of Dunes. 
Here, the king was in imminent danger of being killed, 
having been dismounted and thrown to the ground,- by a 
famous knight, called Le Dentu. Seme French knights 
placed themselves before the king, to give him time to re- 
mount; and Le Dentu, after receiving many wounds, died 
on the spot. 

Notwithstanding the enemy'9 vigorous resistance, their 

army was cut to pieces; and, after many hard -fought battles, 

the rebellious subjects of the duke were subdued. 

1060 Henry died at Vitri, in the fifty-sixth year of his 

age, and thirtieth of his reign; having, the year be- 

e 2 



54 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

fore, had his eldest son, Philip, crowned — then, only seven 

years old. 

The mother of this prince, was Anne, a daughter of Ja- 

raslau, prince of Muscovy; to whom, the Europeans gave 

the title of Duke, and who was called, by the Russians, 

Tzaar, since corrupted into Czar. 

During a part of this reign, the Roman church was go- 
verned by three anti-popes; who, by a convention, hitherto 
unexampled, agreed to divide the revenues equally amongst 
them, and to live in perfect union. The celibacy of the 
priests, though established in the western church, was but 
ill observed; the doctrine of transubstantiation was strongly 
combated in France, and the real presence of Christ, in the 
sacrament, formally denied. 

PHILIP I. 

1060—1108. 

The late king Henry appointed, as regent, during the 
minority of his son Philip, Baldwin the fifth, count of Flan- 
ders. His conduct in that office justified the wisdom of 
Henry's choice. He was alike vigilant, with regard both to 
the foreign and domestic concerns of France. 
1 0fi6 ^ ne ni s ^ an ^ r °f importance, that demanded his 

attention, was the invasion of England, by William 
duke of Normandy. 

The Norman prince founded his claim to the English 
crown, on a pretended will of Edward the Confessor (late 
king of England) in his favour. This claim he fortified by 
an oath, extorted from the present king, Harold, when ship- 
wrecked, during the reign of his predecessor, on the coast 
of France; importing, that he would never aspire to the 
succession, and that he would even support the pretensions 
of the duke. But the will-, Harold knew, to be fictitious; 
and the oath he entirely disregarded, as it had been drawn 
from him by the fear of violence. 

A martial spirit had now diffused itself over Europe; and 
the feudal lords, elated by their princely situation, eagerly 
embraced the most hazardous enterprises, how little soever 
they might be interested in their failure or success. Wil- 
liam had long been distinguished, amongst those haughty 
chieftains, by his power, his courage, and his address, in 
every military exercise; and all who were ambitious of ac- 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 55 

quiring renown in arms, repaired to his court; where they 
were entertained with that hospitality and courtesy, which 
dignified the age. Multitudes of adventurers, therefore, 
tendered their services to William; who selected, from the 
whole, as many, as, when added to the Norman troops, 
made his army amount to sixty-thousand men. 

The king of France being a minor, the regent of the 
kingdom, William's father-in-law, favoured the duke's 
levies, both in France and Flanders; and the emperor, 
Henry IV., promised to defend Normandy, during the ab- 
sence of the duke; and thereby enabled him to draw his 
whole strength to the attack upon England. 

But the most important ally of William, was pope Alex- 
ander II.; who had an extraordinary influence over the 
warriors of that age; and foresaw that, if the French and 
Norman barons were successful in their enterprise, they 
would carry into England, which still maintained some 
degree of independence in ecclesiastical matters, a more de- 
voted reverence to the holy see. 

William was not less favoured by circumstances which 
had recently occurred in England. Having quietly disem- 
barked his troops, at Pevensey, in Sussex, he removed his 
14 ,t camp to Hastings; where a most obstinate and sangui- 
q , x nary battle was fought, in which Harold and his two 
brothers were slain; and William gained not Only the 
victory, but the crown of England. 

10 -,- The frequent revolts of his English subjects, were 
not more harassing to the new monarch, than the re- 
bellion of one of his own sons. Unable to prevail upon his 
father to grant him the dutchy of Normandy, his eldest son, 
Robert, obtained assistance from the king of France, and at- 
tacked the castle of Rouen; from which, he was repulsed, and 
retreated to Gerberoy. 

Here, he was soon besieged, by William. In a sally, made 
bv Robert, he unfortunately met his father; against whom, 
without knowing him, he ran his lance, which he had couched, 
wounded him in the arm, and knocked him off his horse. 
But, when he recognised his parent, the sentiment of natural 
affection withheld his hand: he immediately alighted, threw 
himself at his father's feet, made him mount his own horse, 
and allowed him to return to his camp. 

Two years afterwards, William received his undutiful son 
into favour. But this reconciliation was of but short con- 



5Q HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

tinuance. Upon fresh subjects of discontent, or under new- 
pretences, the young prince again retired from court. 
1087 The conviction of the king of England, that it was 
Philip who fomented the frequent rebellions of his 
son, was a sufficient cause of displeasure, against this prince; 
but, a jest of the king of France, upon the corpulence of Wil- 
liam, furiously enraged him, and again lighted up the torch 
of war. After having ravaged the surrounding country, he 
laid siege to the city of Mante; which he took, and reduced 
to ashes, without sparing so much as a single church. 

But the effects of his revenge were fatal to himself. Having 
gone too near the flames, he was much incommoded, by the 
heat; and, as he withdrew, he spurred his horse, to leap over 
a ditch, when the pummel of his saddle struck against his 
stomach, and caused an abscess within his body; of which, he 
soon afterwards died, at Rouen. 

The conquest of the English crown, by the duke of Nor- 
mandy, was not more remarkable, for its success, than the 
Crusades were, for their extravagance. 

Pope Gregory VII., amongst his other vast ideas, had con- 
ceived the project of uniting the western Christians, against 
the Mahometans, and driving them out of Palestine. The 
work, however, was reserved for a meaner instrument; whose 
judgment was as weak, as his imagination was warm. Chris- 
tians, from the earliest ages, had been accustomed to make 
pilgrimages to that country; where their religion had com- 
menced, and its founder had died for their redemption. But 
an opinion, which now prevailed, that the Millennium, was 
at hand, increased the number and the zeal of the credulous 
devotees, who undertook this arduous journey. A general 
consternation seized the minds of Christians. Many aban- 
doned their friends and families, and hurried, with precipita- 
tion, to the Holy Land; where they imagined Christ would 
suddenly appear, to judge the living and the dead. The 
followers and the countrymen of Mahomet, had given little 
disturbance to those zealous pilgrims, who daily flocked to 
Jerusalem: but, when the Turks, an uncivilized Tartar tribe, 
who had embraced the Mahometan creed, had wrested Syria 
from the Saracens, and taken Jerusalem, pilgrims were ex- 
posed to insufferable outrage. 

While the minds of men were thus inflamed, a fanatical 
monk, commonly known by the name of Peter the Hermit*. 
& native of Amiens, who had made the pilgrimage to Jeru- 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 57 

Salem, ran from one province to another, on his return, 
with a crucifix in his hand, exciting princes and people 
to the holy war; and the enthusiasm of Christendom being 
thus roused, bj various incidents, a council was convoked, 
10 q„ at Clermont, under the pontificate of Urban II. j 
where the Crusade was resolved upon, and the leaders 
chosen. 

Persons of all ranks now flew to arms, with the greatest 
ardour. A great number of princes and nobles, especially 
of France, and the countries dependent upon that kingdom, 
entered upon the crusades: so called, from the figure of a 
cross, displayed in all their standards, and worn upon the 
shoulders of all the crusaders. 

The most illustrious, for his birth, was Hugh, count of 
Vermandois, brother of the king. Raymond, count of Tou- 
louse; also, Robert II., count of Flanders; Robert, duke of 
Normandy, son of William the Conqueror; and Stephen, 
count of Blois, all vassals of the crown of France; joined in 
this expedition. But, of all the daring spirits of the crusade, 
the most famous was Godefroy of Bouillon, duke of the 
Lower Lorraine; who was appointed commander-in-chief. 
10QQ r ^° d eta ^ tne l° n S sei *i es of battles fought, and the 
miserable waste of life suffered, by those wild enthu- 
siasts, would be inconsistent with the limits of this brief 
chronicle of leading facts. Six-hundred-thousand persons 
departed from their homes, in Europe: but forty-thousand 
remained, to behold the city of Jerusalem; and of these, 
only twenty-one-thousand were bred to arms. Opposed to 
them, were forty-thousand, within the city; supplied with 
munitions of war, and every thing required, in abundance- 

The outer wall soon yielch d, to a general assault. A Ge- 
noese fleet, which arrived at Joppa, brought a reinforcement 
of troops and warlike engines. As soon as the machines 
were ready, and the rolling castles, used, at that time, were 
built, an attack was made, upon the second wall, with pate- 
reros, balistas, catapultas, and battering rams. The assault 
lasted till night; which the besieged employed in repairing 
their breaches, and the besiegers their castles, which had 
been damaged, by battering the city.-— The next morning, 
the assault was renewed, with redoubled fury. But the 
Christians, at length weary and dispirited with fatigue, 
began to recoil; which, duke Godefroy perceiving, he called 
out, with a loud voice, that the heavens declared for them > 



58 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

end that he had just seen, on the mount of Olivet, a horseman, 
descending from the clouds, with a buckler, all sparkling 
with lightning; who, by his gesture, encouraged him to pursue 
his victory; and the count of Toulouse made a similar decla- 
ration, to the assailants under his command. 

This artifice had the desired effect. The whole army be- 
lieved in the reality of the vision; not doubting that it was 
St. George who promised them success. Having at length 
gained an opportunity of driving his rolling castle against the 
wall, Godefroy leaped upon it, accompanied by several other 
distinguished leaders, and drove the defenders from the 
works. 

The greater part of the besieged took refuge in the citadel, 
situated where Solomon's temple once stood: but they were 
pursued thither, and so terrible a slaughter followed, that 
every thing swam in blood. In this place, alone, ten-thou- 
sand Mahometans were slain. 

10QQ Thus, was the city of Jerusalem taken, four years 

' after the crusade had been published in the council 

of Clermont; and Godefroy of Bouillon was declared king. 

Amongst various other innovations, of greater importance, 
both in commerce and manners, the holy wars caused the 
establishment of the three religious and military orders of 
knights Hospitallers, Templars, and Teuetonic knights. 

Philip I. died, at Melun, in the fifty-seventh year of his age, 
and the forty-ninth of his reign. He was well made, elo- 
quent, agreeable, and moderate, except in his pleasures and 
amours; to which, he sacrificed his own repose, and the quiet 
of his realm. 

At this stage of our history, it will be profitable to take a 
retrospect of the state of Europe. During the ninth and 
tenth centuries, the ignorance of the West was so profound, 
that the clergy, who alone possessed the important secrets of 
reading and writing, became the arbiters and judges of nearly 
ail secular affairs. Every thing wore the colour of religion. 
"Redeem your souls from destruction," says St. Egidius, . 
bishop of Noyon, "whilst you have the means in your power: 
offer presents and tithes to churchmen; come more frequently 
to church; implore the patronage of the saints: for, if you 
observe these things, you may come, with security, in the 
day of the tribunal of the eternal judge, and say, Give us, 
O Lord, for we have given unto thee!" 

In several churches of France, a festival was celebrated, 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 59 

in commemoration of the Virgin Mary's flight into Egypt 
It was called the Feast of the Ass. A young girl, richly 
dressed, with a child in her arms, was placed upon an ass, 
Superbly caparisoned. The ass was led to the altar, in solemn 
procession. High mass was said, with great pomp. The 
ass was taught to kneel, at proper places: a hymn, no less 
puerile, than impious, was sung, in his praise; and, when the 
ceremony was ended, the priest, instead of the usual words, 
with which he dismissed the people, brayed three times, 
like an ass; and the people, instead of the usual response, 
brayed three times, in return. • 

Letters began to revive in the eleventh century, but made 
small progress, until near its close. A scientific jargon, a 
false logic, employed about words, without conveying any 
idea of tilings, composed the learning of those times. From 
that era, we can trace a succession of causes and events, 
which contributed to abolish anarchy and barbarism, and in- 
troduce order and politeness. 

Amongst the first of these causes, we must rank chivalry; 
which arose naturally from the state of society in that age; 
and had a most powerful effect, in refining the manners of the 
European nations. The education of a knight, generally 
commenced at seven or eight years; for no true lover of chi- 
valry wished his children to pass their time in idleness and 
indulgence. The previous discipline and solemnities of 
initiation, were remarkable. The novice in chivalry, was 
educated in the house of some knight, commonly a person of 
high rank, whom he served, first in the character of a page, 
and afterwards of esquire; nor was he admitted to the supreme 
honour of knighthood, until he had given many striking 
proofs of his valour and address. 

From the lips of the ladies, the gentle page learned both 
his catechism and the art of love; and, as the religion of the 
day was full of symbols, and addressed to the senses, so the 
other feature of his devotion was not to be nourished alone 
by abstract contemplation. He was directed to regard 
some one lady of the court, as the type of his heart's 
future mistress; she was the centre of all his hopes and 
wishes; to her, he was obedient, faithful, and courteous- 
While the young Jean de Saintre was a page of honour, at 
the court of the French king, the lady des Belles Cousines 
inquired of him the name of the mistress of his heart's af- 
fections. The simple youth replied, that he loved his lady 



60 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

mother; and next to her, his sister, Jacqueline, was dear 
to him. — " Young man," rejoined the lady, "I am not 
speaking of the affection due to your mother and sister; but 
I wish to know the name of the lady to whom you are at- 
tached par amours." — The poor boy was still confused; 
and he could only reply, that he loved no one par amours. 
The Dame des Belles Cousines charged him with being a 
traitor to the laws of chivalry, and declared that such an 
avowal evinced his craven spirit. "Whence," she in- 
quired, "sprung the valour and knightly feats of Launce- 
lot, Gawain, Tristram, Giron the Courteous, and other 
ornaments of the round table, besides many more whom I 
could enumerate, except from the noble desire of maintain- 
ing themselves in the grace and esteem of the ladies; with- 
out which spirit-stirring sentiment, they must for ever have 
remained in the shade of obscurity; and do you, cowardly 
valet, presume to declare that you possess no sovereign 
lady, and desire to love none?" 

The persecuted Jean at length named, as his mistress, 
Matheline de Coucy, a child only ten years old— "Mathe- 
line is, indeed, a pretty girl," observed the Dame des Belles 
Cousines; but what profit, what honour, what comfort, what 
aid, what council, for advancing you in chivalrous fame, can 
you derive from such a choice? You should elect a lady 
of noble blood, who has the ability to advise, and the power 
to assist you; and you should serve her so truly, ana love 
her so loyally, as to compel her to acknowledge the honour- 
able affection which you entertain for her; for, be assured, 
that there is no lady, however cruel and haughty, but, 
through long service, will be induced to acknowledge and 
reward loyal affection, with some portion of mercy. " 

The armiger, or esquire, prepared the refection, in the 
morning, and then betook himself to his chivalric exercise. 
At dinner, he, as well as the pages, furnished forth, and at- 
tended at the table, and presented to his lord and the guests 
the water with which they washed their hands, before and 
after the repast. The knight and the squire never sat at 
the same table; nor was even the relation of father and son 
allowed to destroy this principle of chivalric subordination. 
After dinner, the squires prepared the chess tables, or ar- 
ranged the hall for minstrelsy and dancing; in which amuse- 
ments, they were allowed to partake; and the service of 
the day was often closed, by their making the beds of their 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 61 

lords, and presenting them with the vin du coucher, or 
sleeping-cup of wine. 

The squires of a lord had each his respective duties: one 
Was the squire of the chamber, or the chamberlain; and 
another, the carving squire; but the most honourable was he 
that was attached to the person of his lord: he was called 
the squire of the body, and was, indeed, for the time, the 
only military youth of his class. He accompanied his lord 
into the field of battle, carrying his shield and armour; 
while the page usually bore the helmet. He held the stir- 
rup, and assisted the knight to arm. There was always a 
line of squires in the rear of a line of knights; the young 
cavaliers supplying their lords with weapons, assisting them 
to rise, when overthrown, and receiving their prisoners. 

Military exercises were mingled with the anxieties of love. 
The candidate for chivalry practised every mode by which 
strength and activity could be given to the body. He 
learned to endure hunger and thirst, to disregard the sea- 
sons' changes, and, like the Roman youths in the Campus 
Martius, when covered with dust he plunged into the re- 
freshing stream. He accustomed himself to wield the sword, 
to thrust the lance, to strike with the axe, and to wear 
armour. The most favourite exercise was that which was 
called the Quintain: being particularly calculated to practise 
the eye and hand, in giving a right direction to the lance. 
A half figure of a man, armed with sword and buckler, was 
placed upon a post, and turned on a pivot; so that, if the 
assailant, with his lance, hit him not on the middle of the 
breast, but on the extremities, he made the figure turn round, 
and strike him an ill aimed blow, much to the merriment of 
the spectators. 

The ceremony of initiation, into knighthood, was solemn. 
Severe fastings, and nights spent in a church or a chapel, in 
prayer; confession of sins; bathing, and putting on white 
robes, as emblems of the purity of manners, required by the 
laws of chivalry; were necessary preparations; and one of 
the last acts before inauguration, was the shaving of the 
head, to make its appearance resemble the ecclesiastical 
tonsure. 

When the candidate for knighthood, had gone through 

these, and other formalities, he fell at the feet of the person 

from whom he expected that honour, and, on his knees, 

delivered to him his sword. An oath was then administered 

F 



62 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

to him, — "to serve his prince, defend the faith, protect the 
persons and reputations of virtuous ladies; and to rescue, 
at the hazard of his life, widows and orphans, and all un- 
happy persons groaning under injustice or oppression." He- 
was then accoutred, by the knights and ladies who assisted 
at the ceremony; and the king or some nobleman, gave him 
knighthood or dubbing, by three gentle strokes of a sword, 
on the shoulder, or with the palm of his hand, on the neck; 
saying, " In the name of God, St Michael, and St. George, 
I make thee a knight! — be thou loyal, brave, and hardy." 

The characteristics of chivalry, were valour and humanity, 
courtesy, justice, and honour. War was carried on with 
less ferocity, when humanity, no less than courage, began 
to be deemed the ornament of knighthood. 

Cavaliers sometimes took their title from the place where 
they had been knighted. A very distinguished nonour was 
to be called the knight of the Mines; which was to be ob- 
tained by achievingfeats of arms in the subterraneous pro- 
cess of a siege. The mines were the scenes of knightly 
valour: they were lighted by torches; trumpets and other 
instruments of war, resounded, and the general affair of the 
siege was suspended, while the knights tried their prowess; 
the singularity of the mode of combat, giving a zest to the 
encounters. 

The lance was the chief offensive weapon of a knight 
Its length was proportionate to the vigour and address of 
him who bore it; and its sharpened head was fashioned 
agreeably to his taste. To the top of the wooden part, was 
generally fixed an ensign. On this, was marked the cross, 
if the expedition of the soldier had for its object the Holy 
Land; or it bore some part of his heraldry; and in the lat- 
ter case, when the lance was fixed in the ground, near the 
entrance of the owner's tent, it served to designate the 
bearer. 

To transfix his antagonist with a lance, was the ordinary 
endeavour of a knight; but some cavaliers, of remarkable 
hardihood, preferred to come to the closest quarters, where 
the lance could not be used. The battle-axe and the sword, 
which they therefore often wielded, need no particular de- 
scription. But the most favourite weapon was a ponderous 
steel or iron hammer, carrying death, either by the weight 
of its fall or the sharpness of its edge. This hammer, called 
a mallet, or maule, some cavaliers carried at their saddle 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 63 

bow, till the happy moment for " breaking open skulls" 
arrived. A lance could not execute half the sanguinary 
purposes of Richard Coeur de Lion; and it was with a battle- 
axe, as often as with a sword, that he dashed into the ranks 
of the Saracens.* 

The shield was held in equal esteem, in chivalric, as in 
classic times. To lose this part of his defensive harness — 
not to " return with it, or upon it," as was enjoined by the 
Spartan mother, to her son — was considered the most signal 
disgrace that could happen to a knight. Some knights, as 
gentle as they were brave, adorned their shields with a por- 
trait of their "lady-love," or stamped upon it "impresses 
quaint," with a device emblematical of their passion. 
Knights formed of sterner stuff, retained their heraldic 
insignia, and their mottoes breathed war and homicide; but 
gallant cavaliers showed the gentleness of their minds; and 
their impressed sentences were sometimes of plain meaning, 
but oftener dark to all, except to the knight himself, and the 
damsel by whose playful wit they had been invented. 

Certainly, all knights were not religious, even in the 
sense in which religion was understood in chivalric times. 
One cavalier made it his principal boast, that he had burned 
a church, with twenty four monks, its inhabitants. 

Of his moral virtues, perfect fidelity to a promise, was 
conspicuous; for his nobleness disdained any compromise 
with circumstances or convenience. However absurd the 
vow, still he was compelled to perform it, with the utmost 

* This battle axe is thus amusingly described, in the metrical Ro- 
mance of Richard Cceur de Lion : — 

" King Richard, I understand, 

Or he went out of England, 

Let him make an axe for nones, 

To breake therewith the Sarasyn's bones, 

The head was wrought right well, 

Therein was twenty pounds of steel, 

And when he came into Cyprus land, 

The axe he took in his hand. 

All that he hit, he all to-frapped 

The GrirFons away fast rapped, 

Natheless, many he cleared, 

And their unthanks thereby lived, 

And the prison when he came to, 

With his axe he smote right thro, 

Dores, barres, and iron chains, 

And delivered his men out of pains. 



64 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

degree of strictness. Sir Charles du Blois promised Sir 
Loyes of Spain, whatever gift he might require, for the ser- 
vice he had rendered him. "Then," said Sir Loyes, " I 
require you to cause the two knights that are in prison, in 
Favet, to be brought hither, and give them to me, to be 
dealt with at my pleasure; for they have injured me, and 
slain my nephew. I wilt strike off their heads, before the 
town, in sight of their companions. " 

An anecdote is recorded, which curiously marks the man- 
ners of the chivalric ages, with regard to courtesy. The 
wife and sister of a celebrated knight, were once living in 
a castle which was attacked and taken by a body of Nor- 
man and English troops. The success was great and im- 
portant; but public indignation was excited against the 
invaders, because they had transgressed the license of war, 
and been guilty of the uncourteous action of surprising and 
disturbing ladies, while they were asleep. 

To play the game of chess, to hear the minstrels' lays, 
and read romances, were the principal amusements of the 
knight, when the season and the weather did not permit 
hawking and hunting. A true knight was a chess-player; 
and the game was played in every country of chivalry; for, 
as the chivalric states of midland Europe obtained a know- 
ledge of it from the Scandinavians, so the southern states 
acquired it from the Arabs. The fondness of our ancestors 
for the game of chess, appears by the frequent mention of 
the amusement in the ancient romances. Sometimes, a 
lover procured admittance to the place where his mistress 
was confined, by permitting the jailor to win from him a 
game of chess. 

It is difficult to imagine the extravagant degree of estima- 
tion in which hawks were held, during the chivalric ages* 
They were considered as symbols of high estate; and, as 
such, were constantly carried about, by the nobility of both 
sexes. They were brought even to places of public worship; 
and, in the case of some individuals, this irreverent practice 
seems to have been recognised as a right The treasurer 
of the church of Auxerne, enjoyed the distinction of assist- 
ing at divine service, on solemn days, with a falcon on his 
hand; and the lord of Lassai held the privilege of perching 
his upon the altar. 

The maiden of gentle birth, was, like her brother, edu- 
cated in the castle of some knight or baron, her father's* 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 65 

friend; and many of her duties were those of personal at- 
tendance. As the young candidate for chivalric honours, 
carved at table, handed the wines, and made the beds of 
his lord; so, his sister's care was to dress her lady, to con- 
tribute, by music and conversation, to her amusement, and 
to form a part of her retinue of state. 

The generous feeling of cavaliers for ladies, was nobly 
requited. In the wars of the Guelphs and the Ghibbelines, 
the emperor Conrad, as an offended sovereign, had refused 
all terms of capitulation, to the garrison of Winnisberg; but, 
as a courteous knight, he permitted the women to depart, 
with such of their precious effects as they themselves could 
carry. The gates of the town were thrown open, and a 
long train of matrons, each bearing a husband, or a father, 
or a brother, on her shoulders, passed, in safety, through 
the applauding camp. 

"All ladies," observes one of the historians of chivalry, 
" were not of the opinion of Amadis de Gaul, that their best 
weapons were sighs and tears." What they admired, they 
imitated; and a high spirited damsel would, in private, di < 
vest herself of her robe, gird around her a belt, and, draw- 
ing its sword from its scabbard, fight with the air, till she was 
wearied. The gallant youths of chivalry, called a lady of 
this martial temperament, " le bel cavalier." Two ladies de- 
cided some fierce disputes by the sword. Each summoned 
to her aid a band of cavaliers; and the stoutest lancers of 
Normandy felt no loss of dignity, in being commanded by 
a woman. The lady Eloisa and the lady Isabella, rode 
through their respective ranks, with the address of expe- 
rienced leaders; and their contest, like that of nations, 
was terminated only by plundering and burning each others' 
states. In the crusades, parties of fair and noble women 
accompanied the chivalry of Europe, to the holy land. 
Sometimes, they bound up the wounds of the combatants 
who had fallen in battle with the Musselmen; sometimes, 
they wielded the flaming sword themselves; the second cru- 
sade, in particular, having been distinguished by a troop of 
ladies, harnessed in glittering armour, and mounted on fiery 
steeds. A lady often wore a sword, even in times of peace; 
and every great landed proprietress, sat girded with her 
sword, amongst the justices, at the sessions and assizes. 

Safe conduct, through hostile lands, was allowed to those 
who wished to join in the tournament or joust. The silence 
f2 



66 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

and solitude of the country, in those dark times, were plea- 
singly relieved by bands of jolly and lady -loving cavaliers, 
with trains of squires and pages, riding, to court, to the tune 
of a merry roundelay. It was particularly the custom of 
newly made knights, to attend a tournament, in order to es- 
tablish their prowess, and show that they deserved their 
spurs. 

The scene of combat was the lists; a large place, sur- 
rounded by ropes or railing. The lists were decorated 
with the splendid richness of feudal power. Besides the 
gorgeous display of heraldric insignia,. near the champions' 
tents, the galleries, erected to contain the proud and joyous 
spectators, were covered with tapestry, representing chi- 
valry, both in its warlike and amorous guise: — on one side, 
the knight, with his bright faulchion, smiting away hosts of 
foes; and on the other, kneeling at the feet of beauty. 

The ladies were the supreme judges of tournaments; and, 
if any complaint were raised against a knight, they adjudged 
the cause, without appeal. Generally, however, they de- 
puted their power to a knight; who, on account of this dis- 
tinction was called the " Knight of Honour." He bore, at 
the end of his lance, a ribbon, or some other sign of woman's 
favour; and, with this badge of authority, he waved the 
fiercest knights into order and obedience. 

Each knight w r as followed by his squires, whose number 
was generally limited to three. They furnished their lord 
with arms, arranged his armour, and raised him from the 
ground, when dismounted by his foe. They also carried 
words of love, to re-animate the courage and strength of the 
exhausted cavalier; and a ribbon, drawn from a maiden's 
bosom, was often sent to her chosen knight, when, in the 
shock of spears, her first favour had been torn from the 
place where it had been fixed by her fair hand. 

The tournament and joust survived chivalry itself, the 
image of which they had reflected and brightened. Changes 
in the military art — the use of the musket, for the lance- 
did not immediately affect manners; and the world long 
clung, with fondness, to those splendid and graceful shows, 
which had thrown light and elegance over the warriors and 
dames of old. 

When society was thus emerging from barbarism, a copy 
of Justinian's Pandects was discovered, at Amalfi, in Italy 
(in the year 1130;) and though the age had not sufficient taste 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 67 

to relish the beauty of the Roman classics, it immediately 
perceived the merit of a system of laws, in which all the 
points most interesting to mankind, were settled, with dis- 
cernment, equity, and precision. 

LOUIS VI. 

1108—1137. 

Louis VI., sumamed the Gross, because of his great cor- 
pulence, towards the end of his reign, was, at the death of 
the late king, his father, about twenty -nine years of age. 

Similar to nearly every other reign that history presents, 
this also was disturbed, by rebellion and foreign wars. Louis 
and Henry I. of England having disputed about the fortress 
of Gisors, a defence upon the frontiers of Normandy and 
France, the former challenged the English monarch to de- 
cide the matter, by duel, on the bridge that separated the 
two camps: but Henry treated the challenge as a bravado, 
and trusted to the fate of war. 

The peace which followed, after several indecisive bat- 
tles, was of short continuance. The absence of Robert, 
son of William the Conqueror, with the crusaders, enabled 
his younger brother, Henry, to seize the crown of England, 
on the death of William Rufus; and the defeat of Robert, 
at the battle of Tenchebray, gave Henry an opportunity of 
imprisoning him, and keeping him incarcerated, during the 
remainder of his life. An apology was thus afforded the king 
1 1 . of France, for another war. Ever seeking a pretext 
for disquieting the English monarch, with regard to 
his continental dominions, he encouraged the pretensions of 
Robert's son, William, surnamed Clito, who had applied to 
all the courts of Europe, still unable to procure any remedy 
for his own bad fortune, or the deliverance of his father. 

Before the conquest of England, by the duke of Nor- 
mandy, that kingdom had never come into hostile contact 
with France. But, soon after that event, the first wars be- 
tween the French and English commenced; an inevitable 
consequence of the union of England and Normandy, un- 
der one sovereign; as thereby, the vassal became more 
powerful than his superior lord. 

The armies of the two kings engaged on the plains of 
Brenneville. The battle was obstinate and bloody. At one 
time, Louis, at another, Henry seemed victorious. But, 



68 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

the French army was, T at last, dispersed; and Louis, being 
hurried along with those that fled, and thrown from his 
horse, was obliged to escape on foot. 
112 -, The king of England was at length freed from the 
pretensions of his nephew. As William was be- 
sieging Alost, he received a wound, in the hand, from a 
pike; of which, he, in a few days afterwards, died. 

His patron, the king of France, about this time, narrowly 
escaped being killed. In an expedition against his rebel- 
lious vassals, he was wounded, in the thigh, by a stone, shot, 
out of a paterero, from the walls of the castle of Livri. 
. j 27 Death, however, is equally certain, to the monarch 
and the subject. The prince, like the peasant, must 
make his mortal exit, after "he has strutted his hour 
upon the stage." The great heats, in this year, produced 
a serious effect upon the king's health, and he died, on the 
first of August, in the sixtieth year of his age, and thirtieth 
of his reign. 

Louis was very generally regretted. His sincerity, his 
zeal for justice, his liberal views, with regard to civil go- 
vernment, merited that his subjects should honour his fu- 
neral with their tears. 

He established the Commons, or Third Estate, by en- 
franchising the bondmen, and diminishing; the exorbitant 
authority of the lords. He sent commissaries into the pro- 
vinces, to redress the wrongs of such as had been oppressed 
by the dukes and counts, and every where encouraged 
appeals to the royal judges. 

When death seemed to approach, he ordered his son to 
be called to him, and gave him the following excellent ad- 
vice: — " By this sign," said he, (drawing the signet from 
his finger,) "I invest you with sovereign authority; but, re- 
member, that it is nothing but a public employment, to which 
you are called, by Heaven; and, for the exercise of which, 
you must render an account, in the other world." 

In the early times of the French monarchy, ecclesiastics 
and military men were the only people in the kingdom that 
were free. The other inhabitants of cities, towns, and vil- 
lages, were slaves; though not in an equal degree. They 
were divided into two classes. The first, called serfs, were 
attached to the soil, and transferred, with the trees that 
grew on it, from one proprietor to another; being unable 
either to marry, or to change their residence or profession, 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 69 

without the permission of their master. The whole produce 
of their labour, was his; except he chose to release them from 
this obligation, on condition of receiving a stipulated sum, 
at stated periods, as well for the serf himself, as for his wife 
and children. The second class, denominated homines de 
poete, were not so entirely dependent upon their lord, who 
nad no power over their lives or property. Their servitude 
consisted in the obligation of rendering him certain duties. 
But, neither of these descriptions of men, had any other 
judge, than the lord of the soil; nor any other law, than 
what he chose to enact. Hence, it was, that so many crimes 
remained unpunished; since the nobles, themselves, were, 
generally speaking, the perpetrators of the numerous assassi- 
nations, and other lawless proceedings, so frequent through- 
out the kingdom. — In order to remedy these abuses, and, 
at the same time, to create some power, that might counter- 
balance those potent vassals, Louis first adopted the plan of 
conferring new privileges upon the towns situated within his 
own domain. These privileges were called Charters of 
Community; by which, he enfranchised the inhabitants, 
abolished all marks of servitude, and formed them into cor- 
porations, or bodies politic, to be governed by a council and 
magistrates, of their own choice. The great barons, by 
degrees, began to imitate the example of their monarch. 
They had expended so immense sums, in their expedition to 
the Holy Land, that they eagerly embraced this new ex- 

f>edient for raising money, by the sale of those charters of 
iberty; and, in less than two centuries, servitude was abo- 
lished, in most of the towns of France. 

The kingdom soon felt the advantages arising from this 
beneficial change. The towns increased in population; the 
arts, manufactures, and commerce, began to nourish; new 
villages were built; lands, hitherto uncultivated, were ren- 
dered fertile, and the emancipated peasants took farms on 
their own account, and laboured for themselves. 

But, while emancipation was thus given to the body, 
chains were, by a very different description of individuals^ 
forcing for the mind. It was at this period, that a taste for 
sophistry was introduced into the schools; where it passed 
from phdosophy to theology, and caused the discussion of a 
thousand perplexing questions, not less dangerous, than 
subtle. There was not a single master or professor, who 
taught any of the useful sciences, or the belles-lettres; all 



70 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

who had pretension to wit, or boasted of their understandings 
puzzled their brain with abstract speculations, and lost 
themselves in the labyrinth of metaphysics. The first who 
gave lessons, in this kind of new logic, was Roscelin, of 
Compeigne; whose pupil and successor was the celebrated 
Abelard. 

LOUIS VII. 

1137—1180. 

Louis VII. ; (frequently called the Younger, to distin- 
guish him from his father,) after he had been a few years on 
the throne, became involved in one of those civil wars, ren- 
dered unavoidable by the feudal system; and, having, in an 
expedition into Champagne, made himself master of Vitri, 
he ordered it to be set on fire. Thirteen -hundred persons, 
who had taken refuge in the church, perished in the flames. 
This unjustifiable and inhuman act, made a deep impression 
upon the king's mind; and prepared the way for a second 
crusade; in winch, he himself bore no inconsiderable part 

The power of the Christians of the East, was gradually 
declining, in those countries which they had conquered. 
One city had already been retaken, by the Turks; and Je- 
rusalem itself was threatened. Europe was solicited for a 
new armament: and, as the French had poured forth the 
first inundation, they were now applied to, for a second. 
114 - Pope Eugenius III., to whom the deputation 

from the East, had been sent, appointed Bernard, 
abbot of Clairvaux, as the instigator of this pious warfare. 
He had long enjoyed the reputation of a saint; was heard as 
an oracle, and revered as a prophet. It is not, therefore, 
surprising, that he was able to persuade the king of France, 
that there was no other method of expiating his guilt, than 
by an expedition to the Holy Land. At Vezelai, in Bur- 
gundy, a scaffold was erected, in the market-place; on which, 
St. Bernard appeared, by the side of Louis. The saint spoke 
first: he was seconded by the king, after taking the cross; 
and the example was followed by all present; amongst whom, 
were many of the chief nobility. 

The labours of this fanatical orator, were not confined to 
France. He preached the crusade in Germany, also; where, 
by the force of his impassioned eloquence, he prevailed 
upon the emperor Conrad III., and an infinite number of 
persons, of all ranks, to take the cross. 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 71 

The Germans entered the fieid first; and were followed 
by the French. Of the two nations, there were reckoned 
one-hundred-and-forty-thousand men, in complete armour; 
and as many light-horse and infantry, as swelled this second 
emigration to at least three-hundred-thousand persons. 
- 1 47 This romantic expedition, was signally disastrous. 

The disadvantage of contending in a foreign coun- 
try, again produced a most fatal result. The sultan of 
Iconium, drew the heavy German cavalry of Conrad, 
amongst the rocks, and cut his army to pieces. Nor was 
the king of France attended with better fortune. When his 
army was nearly all destroyed, being resolved to die, he 
continued to fight, at the head of some lords and gentlemen, 
who had collected around him, and had no hopes of preser- 
vation, except in the approaching night. Left almost alone, 
in the dark, he climbed a tree, loaded, as he was, with his 
heavy armour; and thence, to the top of a rock. Here, he 
was attacked, by some Mahometans, with arrows; whilst 
others ascended the tree, in order to surmount the rock. 
But his armour was proof against the arrows; and he made 
so good use of his sword, cutting; off the heads or arms of all 
who approached him, that, at last, they retired, without 
knowing it was the king. 

The conclusion of the expedition, was, that both Louis 
and the emperor returned to Europe, with the wreck of a 
great army; after achieving nothing further, than a mere 
visit to Jerusalem. 

Thousands of ruined families, in vain exclaimed against 
St. Bernard, for his deluding prophecies. He excused him- 
self, by the example of Moses; who, like him, he said, had 
promised to conduct the Israelites into a happy country, and 
yet saw the first generation perish in the desert. 

The misfortunes, by which the king of France had been 
overwhelmed, in Asia, did not intimidate him, from enter- 
ing into fresh wars, on his return to Europe. The formida- 
ble attitude of Henry II., of England, in being master not 
only of Normandy, but also of a larger part of France, than 
was subject to the immediate jurisdiction of the king, was 
not the sole cause of hostilities between the two monarchs. 
There was another, of a character more personal. The ce- 
lebrated Thomas a Becket, archbishop of Canterbury, having, 
by his obstinate encroachments upon the civil authorities, in 
England, drawn upon him the severe displeasure of his 



72 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

sovereign, was banished from the kingdom, took refuge in 
France, and was there received, in a more friendly and 
respectful manner, by the king, than Henry desired. 
j.^Q The particulars of the murder of this haughty 
prelate, in his own cathedral, at Canterbury, are to 
be sought for, rather in the history of England, than of 
France. Though innocent of the crime of participating in 
that horrid act, yet Henry found it expedient to prostrate 
himself before Becket's shrine, and receive absolution from 
the ecclesiastics. His rival, the king of France, asked per- 
mission to make a pilgrimage to the-tomb of this noted saint, 
to obtain intercession for the recovery, from a dangerous 
illness, of his son and heir. Louis (as a great English his- 
torian pleasantly remarks) probably thought himself entitled 
to the favour of that saint, on account of their ancient inti- 
macy; and hoped, that Becket, whom he had protected 
while on earth, would not, now that he was so highly ad- 
vanced in heaven, forget his old friend and benefactor. 

The young prince was restored to health; and, as it was 
superstitiously supposed, through the intercession of Becket : 
but the king himself, soon after his return, was struck with 
an apoplexy, which deprived him of his judgment; and his 
son Philip assumed the administration, though only in his 
fifteenth year. 

1 1 80 king soon left his son sole possessor of the throne. 

He died, in the following year, at Paris, in the sixtieth 
year of his age, and the forty -fourth of his reign; and was 
buried in the abbey of Barbeau, which he had founded, near 
Melun. 

PHILIP II. 

1180—1223. 

Philip was married to Isabella, the daughter of Baldwin, 
count of Hainault; a princess descended from Ermengarde, 
the eldest daughter of the unfortunate Charles, duke of 
Lorraine, brother to Lothaire the second, and uncle to 
Louis V. Still revering the memory of the Carlovingian 
princes, the French derived inexpressible pleasure from this 
union of the royal families; this alliance of the blood of 
Charlemagne, with the blood of Capet. 

The first act of this young monarch, though it ill ac- 
cords with the high reputation, to which he seems entitled, 
for his general good conduct, was yet in conformity with 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 73 

the illiberal spirit of the age. In the first year of his reign, 
he banished the Jews out of all his dominions, confiscated 
their estates, and discharged all who owed them money, 
from their debts; to indemnify them for the excessive usuries, 
practised upon them, by that people. 

The period is not very remote, when no interest, what- 
ever, was allowed, by law, to be charged for the loan of 
money: at length, a certain rate was fixed, according to the 
fancy of legislators, at which it might legally be lent; and 
this rate has been gradually lessening, in a ratio, compounded 
of the cotemporary demands of commerce, and the supply 
of the precious metals. But, the time is fast approaching, 
when it will be confessed, by the most enlightened govern- 
ments, that all interference to regulate the hire of money, 
is as irrational and impolitic, as to fix the price of land, or 
labour; or to intermeddle with the price of bread. Money 
is more abundant, at some times, than at others: it is of 
more value to one species of traders, than to another; and it 
is not the legislator, but existing circumstances, over which 
he can have no control, that will, from time to time, reduce 
to a very low, or advance to a very high degree, the price 
that can be afforded for the use of money. 

The Jews were not the only religious sect, against whom 
the sword of persecution was then turned. The Albigenses, 
also, a kind of sectaries, in the south of France, headed by 
the count of Toulouse, became obnoxious to the pope, be- 
cause they neglected the rites of the church, and opposed 
the power and influence of the clergy; and a crusade was 

Sublished against them, under the generalship of Simon de 
lontfort. Infected by the metaphysics of Aristotle, which 
had been lately transmitted from Constantinople, Aimery 
de Chartres, an enthusiastic of strong sense, but of stronger 
passions, became the founder of a new sect, whose principal 
tenets consisted in the rejection of a Heaven and a Hell; in 
maintaining that the only paradise that could be known by 
man, resulted from the effects of doing good; and his only 
punishment, from ignorance and crime. They were dis- 
tinguished by the appellation of The Albigenses^ either from 
the council of Jilbi, where their errors were anathematized, 
or because the inhabitants of that town were more particu- 
larly infected with their tenets. Pope Innocent sent two 
monks, to bring the Albigenses to trial; which was the first 
foundation of that detestable establishment, the Inquisition. 
G 



74 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

But a detail of the wars, against the nobles who espoused 
the heresy of the Albigenses, or of the many rebellions of 
the king's vassals against the royal authority, cannot be ad- 
mitted into the present work. 

The Christians, in the Holy Land, were now in a de- 
plorable condition. Civil wars were kindled amongst 
themselves ; and the famous Saladin, emperor of the Sara- 
cens, had conquered the dominions which they had pos- 
sessed, in that country. Louis VII. had assumed the cross, 
to atone for his crime at Vitri: Philip now joined in a cru- 
sade, to show his gratitude for the birth of a son and heir. 

Another prince, of much higher renown, in the field of 
arms, was his companion in the adventure. This was 
Richard the First, of England, surnamed Cceur de Lion, 
now sovereign of that kingdom, by the recent death of his 
father, Henry II. 

* .. q The armies of the two monarchs having joined, 

at Vezeley, they marched together, to Lyons. Philip 
embarked at Genoa, Richard at Marseilles. The rendez- 
vous was appointed at Messina; and, as the season was far 
advanced, the two armies wintered in Sicily: but, during 
their stay, there were serious misunderstandings between 
the two kings; and they had nearly come to blows. Though 
professed friends, they were, by the situation and extent of 
their dominions, rivals in power; by their age and inclina- 
tions, competitors for glory. Their disputes were, however, 
settled: they sailed, in the ensuing spring, and arrived safely 
in the port of Acre. 

This place, (called Ptolemais, by the Greeks) was then 
besieged, by Guy of Lusignan, king of Jerusalem; and had 
been defended, for three years, by the troops of Saladin. 

Some time was lost, before the two kings could agree to 
act in concert. At length, it was determined, that their 
attacks should be alternate. While one made an assault, 
the other was to guard the lines, against Saladin; who, with 
a powerful army, lay within shot of their camp. The French 
made the first attempt, and were repulsed. But, they at 
length undermined a tower; the fall of which made so wide 
an opening, that several battalions might enter abreast; and 
a second mine having been sprung, and the place being ex- 
posed to the attack both of the English and the French, the 
emirs made a signal of capitulation. 

Thus, was this famous siege, which had so long engaged 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 75 

the attention of all Europe, brought to the desired close; 
but, with the loss of three-hundred-thousand men, besides 
persons of superior rank. 

Amongst the nobles who fell on this memorable occa- 
sion, on the part of the French, was Ralph de Coucy; who, 
being mortally wounded, retired to his tent, wrote a fare- 
well letter to a married lady, named Du Fayel, of whom he 
was deeply enamoured, and, after ordering his trusty esquire 
to carry his heart to the object of his love, in a few minutes 
expired. Faithful to the commands of his deceased lord, 
the gentleman repaired to the castle, near Acre, where the 
lady resided; at the gates of which he met the husband, 
whose jealousy leading him to search the messenger, he found 
the fatal present. Enraged at his wife, he gave the heart 
of her lover to his cook, had it placed upon the table before 
her, and, when she had feasted on it, for some time, the 
savage disclosed to her the deadly secret. She was seized 
with inexpressible horror. She vowed, that, after a meal 
thus precious, no other nourishment should ever enter her 
lips* — she kept her word, and, in a few days afterwards, 
expired. 

After this arduous and important conquest, both the 
Christians and the Mahometans were full of expectation, as 
to the future movements of the crusading troops. Every 
thing depended upon the two kings. But they were not 
held very long in suspense. Ten days after the reduc- 
tion of Acre, the king of France declared his intention of 
returning home. The distemper, with which he had been 
seized, had left him extremely weak; and was attended 
with symptoms, which induced a suspicion of his being 
poisoned. 

The king of England remained only a year longer, in 
Palestine; during which time, he gained fresh laurels, by 
the overthrow of the Saracens, especially at Ascalon; where 
he defeated Saladin, and slew forty-thousand of his men. 
As every Christian leader, except Richard himself, expres- 
sed a desire of speedily returning home, there appeared an 
absolute necessity, of abandoning, for the present, all hope9 
of further conquest. Richard therefore concluded a truce 
with Saladin. It was to continue three years, three months, 
three weeks* three days, and three hours; a magical num- 
ber, suggested by a superstition (as an elegant historian 
observes) well suited to the object of the war. 



76 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

Soon after the conclusion of this truce, Saladin died, at 
Damascus. Before he expired, he ordered his winding-sheet 
to be carried, as a standard, through every street of the city; 
while a crier went before it, and proclaimed, with a loud 
voice, « This is all that remains to the mighty Saladin, the 
conqueror of the East.'* 

The jealousy, felt by Richard, of his brother John and 
the king of France, lest they would, in his absence, make 
an attack upon his dominions, would, of itself, have been a 
sufficient cause, to hasten his return. 

His journey homeward was full of peril. As he passed, 
in the disguise of a pilgrim, through the dominions of Leo- 
pold of Austria, whom he had affronted at the siege of 
Acre, he was taken, by that duke, and transferred to the 
custody of the emperor Henry VI. This prince, being 
Philip's friend, gave him notice of Richard's detention, as 
an event which could not be otherwise than pleasing. The 
emperor was not wrong in his conjecture. Philip resolved 
to profit by the incident. He entered into a treaty, with 
John, the king of England's brother: who did homage to the 
king of France, for all the continental dominions of the 
English crown ; and, according to some historians, for 
England itself. John went immediately into the latter 
country | and, having spread a report, that Richard had died 
in prison, he demanded to be recognised as king: but, all 
the barons remained faithful to the absent monarch; and he 
could only make himself master of two castles. 

The vindictive enemies of Richard, had carefully con- 
cealed, not only the place of his confinement, but even the 
circumstances of his captivity; and both might have re- 
mained unknown, but for the grateful attachment of a Pro- 
vencal bard, or minstrel, named Blond el; who had shared 
that prince's friendship, and experienced his bounty. 
Having travelled over the European continent, to learn the 
history of his beloved patron, who was a poet, as well as a 
hero, Blondel gained intelligence of a certain castle, in Ger- 
many, where a prisoner of distinction was confined, and 
guarded with unusual care. The minstrel repaired to the 
place. But its gates were shut against him; and he could ob- 
tain no information, as to the name or quality of the person 
whom it secured. In this extremity, he thought of an ex- 
pedient, for making the desired discovery. He chaunted, 
with a loud voice, some verses of a song, which had been 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 77 

composed partly by himself, and partly by Richard; and, to 
his unspeakable joy, on making a pause, he heard it re- 
echoed and continued, by the royal captive. To this dis- 
covery, Richard is said to have eventually owed his release. 
The bard hastened with the intelligence to England; the 
1 1 Q4 P°P e himself used his endeavours, to obtain Richard's 
deliverance; a ransom was agreed on; and this gal- 
lant warrior was set at liberty, after a painful imprisonment, 
of more than eighteen months. 

We cannot suppose, that Richard would easily forgive 
the king of France, for a captivity, the length of which, at 
least, was occasioned by his contrivance. As soon as Philip 
knew that Richard had concluded his treaty with the em- 
peror, he wrote to his confederate, John, in these words: 
"'Take care of yourself; the Devil is let loose:" which 
caused the treacherous brother immediately to leave Eng- 
land, and come to France. 

Hostilities soon commenced, between the two rival kings. 
Many places were taken, by both parties, and again lost. 
A skirmish occurred, which is memorable, for the intre- 
pidity shown by Philip. He had come out of Mante, 
to proceed to Gisors, accompanied by only two-hundred 
norse. Near the latter place, he met the king of England, 
followed by several thousand troops. He was advised to 
return; but the king, looking with indignation on the officer 
who had made the proposal, — "I," said he, "return, and 
ily from the king of England !— • Whoever has a mind, let 
him follow me; and, with me, either conquer, or gloriously 
die." — Then, charging furiously upon the enemy's squad- 
rons, he broke through them; and, throwing down all that 
opposed him, he reached Gisors, by one of the happiest 
strokes of presumption, that were ever practised. 

In the following year, the king was beaten, by Richard, 
in two engagements; one, near Vernon, the other between 
Mante and Gisors. At the latter place, he had nearly been 
killed. When on the bridge, followed by the runaway 
crowd, whom the English closely pursued, it broke down, 
the king fell into the river, and would have been drowned, 
as many others were, had he not been immediately as- 
sisted. 

The bishop of Beauvais, a martial prelate, and cousin- 
german to the king, having been taken in battle, Richard, 
who hated him for having been the means of increasing the 
g 2 



78 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

rigour of his confinement, in Germany, threw him into 
prison, and loaded him with irons: and, when the pope de- 
manded his liberty, and claimed him as his son, the English 
monarch sent to his holiness the coat of mail, which the 
bishop had worn in battle, all besmeared with blood,* ac- 
companied by the words employed by the sons of Jacob, to 
their father — "This, have we found; know whether it be 
thy son's coat, or not!" 

1 1 on Philip was soon afterwards freed from his formi- 
dable opponent. When Richard was besieging the 
castle of Chalus, near Limoges, an archer, belonging to the 
garrison, called Bertrand of Gourdon, let fly an arrow at 
him, that struck him in the arm, and gave him a wound; 
which, through the ignorance of his surgeon, became mortal. 
Richard, however, ordered the castle to be stormed, and it 
was quickly taken. He then directed that all the garrison 
should be hanged, except the person by whom he had been 
wounded; reserving him, as some historians think, for a 
punishment more severe. 

A few days afterwards, his recovery being despaired of, 
he sent for Gourdon, and thus addressed him: " Wretch, 
what have I done to thee, to make thee kill me?" — "What 
have you done to me!" calmly replied Gourdon. " I'll tell 
you: — you have killed my father and my two brothers, witli 
your own hands; and you intended to hang myself. I am 
now in your power: be revenged of me, as you please. I 
am ready to suffer the sharpest torments, provided I may 
have the pleasure of hearing that you die by my hands; you 
that have done so much mischief in the world." 

The conduct of the dying monarch was heroic. He com- 
manded that Gourdon's chains should be taken off, and said 
only these few words: "Friend, I forgive you." He then 
ordered him to be set at liberty, and gave him a sum of 
money. But the generous intentions of the prince, were 
defeated. He was seized, by one Marcade, a chief of the 
Brabancons, (a sort of banditti, at that time employed, in 
their armies, by the continental sovereigns,) who had him 
flayed alive, and hanged, as soon as the king expired. 

As Richard left no issue, he was succeeded by his bro- 
ther John. 

1202 ^ e success i° n was disputed by Arthur, duke of 

Brittany, son of John's elder brother, Geoffrey; and 

the barons of Anjou, Maine, and Touraine, declared in fa- 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. T& 

vour of this young prince. He was aided also by the king 
of France; whose enmity to the English, was uniformly in- 
veterate, by whatever monarch they were governed; and 
every thing promised success, when Arthur was unfortu- 
nately taken prisoner, by his uncle John, and inhumanly 
murdered. 

From that moment, John was detested by his subjects, 
both in England and on the continent. Philip, as his supe- 
rior lord, (in relation to his continental dominions) sum- 
moned him to be tried before himself and his peers; and, 
on his non-appearance, he was declared guilty of murder 
and parricide, and all his foreign domains^were declared 
forfeited to the crown of France. 

. 9ft4 The execution of this sentence, was not difficult. 
Philip not only gained possession of Normandy, 
but successively reduced Anjou, Maine, Touraine, and a 
part of Poictou. 

Thus, was Normandy, the richest and most fertile pro- 
vince in all the French dominions, reunited to the crown of 
France, about three centuries after the first cession of it, by 
Charles the Simple. During that time, it had been governed 
by sixteen dukes. " Rollo, the Dane," says Megeray, « who, 
from a barbarian, became a Christian and a virtuous man, 
was the first; and John, who, from a Christian, became, 
more wicked than either an infidel or barbarian, was the last." 

But the most powerful enemy of the degraded monarch, 
was the pope. By him, he was excommunicated; not for 
his many crimes, but for his interference in the church- 
government of England. 

As the last sentence could not be executed, without an 
armed force, the pontiff" fixed upon the French king, into 
whose hands he could most safely intrust so terrible a 
weapon: and he offered to that monarch, besides the re- 
mission of all his sins, the kingdom of England, as the re- 
ward of his labour. 

Although he thereby ratified an authority, which might 
one day hurl him from his throne, Philip accepted the libe- 
ral offer of the pope. A decisive action was soon expected, 
between the two kings; but the pope artfully tricked them 
both, by inducing the king of England to surrender to him 
his crown. Philip was informed, that he must relinquish 
all thoughts of attacking England, as it was then a fief of 
the church of Rome. He was enraged at this intelligence. 



80 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

He swore that he would not be duped, by such hypocritical 
pretences; nor would he have desisted from his enterprise, 
but for more weighty reasons. His fleet was nearly de- 
stroyed, by the English navy; and the emperor Otho II. had 
entered into an alliance with his uncle, the king of England, 
and the count of Flanders, in order to oppose the designs of 
France, now become formidable to the rest of Europe. 
1214 Philip, however, advanced, undismayed, to meet 
his enemies, with an army of forty -thousand men. 
The force of Otho, consisting chiefly of English and German 
troops, doubled that of Philip. The two armies met near 
the village of B juvines, between Lisle and Tournay, where 
the allies were totally routed, and thirty-thousand Germans 
are said to have been slain. 

In this battle, the king's life was seriously endangered. 
A German battalion broke through his troop, and surround- 
ed him. He defended himself, for a long time, and killed 
several of the enemy, with his own hand. The royal stand- 
ard-bearer, raising himself upon his stirrups, waved it up 
and down, without ceasing, as a signal of the king's danger, 
who was now reduced to the last extremity. The assailants 
attacked scarcely any person, except Philip. They aimed 
their blows at him, on all sides; which, his management, 
his strength, and the goodness of his armour, happily warded 
off; until a German soldier, with one of those short javelins 
having a hook on each side of the point, struck at his throat. 
A kind of collar, worn by the king underneath, broke the 
force of the blow, and prevented a wound: but the hooks 
being entangled, between the cuirass and that part of the 
helmet which goes under the chin, the soldier drew with all 
his might, pulled the king off his horse, and laid him upon 
the ground. 

The king immediately arose, but he could not extricate 
himself from the soldier. The emperor, who was near the 
place, galloped thither, in haste, to run him through; and 
the king had certainly been killed, if, at the moment of his 
fall, some lords and gentlemen had not made a way with 
their swords, through every thing that opposed them, and 
opened for him a passage. The soldier was either killed or 
driven away; and a fresh horse being given to the king, he 
was enabled to escape. 

1216 r ^ wo y ears afterwards, king John of England died, 
at the castle of Newark, in the forty-ninth year of 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 81 

his age, after a most disgraceful reign of eighteen years; 
being succeeded by his eldest son, Henry III., then only 
nine years old. 

- O0 „ In the month of July, of this year, Philip was 
seized with a quartan ague ; of which he died, at 
Mante, when holding an assembly of the barons and pre- 
lates of the kingdom, in the fifty-ninth year of his age, and 
forty-fourth of his reign. 

Philip (surnamed Augustus, by some historians,) is al- 
lowed to have been the ablest prince, that had wielded the 
sceptre of France, since the reign of Charlemagne. But, 
we must not be so far dazzled by the splendour of his 
conquests, as to be blind to his moral defects. Though his 
mind was capacious and enterprising, his bad qualities were 
many, and his virtues few. 

Before the time of Philip, the kings of France had been 
less powerful than some of their subjects; to so narrow a 
compass, were the royal demesnes reduced. But the regal 
power has always since been increased, in proportion to the 
decay of the feudal barons; who were oppressors of the peo- 
ple, and disturbers of the public peace. 

Philip enlarged the boundaries of the capital, adorned it 
with several churches, erected in a style of Gothic magnifi- 
cence; particularly the cathedral of Notre Dame, which he 
rebuilt; was a patron of the polite arts, and bountiful to the 
University of Paris, the students of which, in his reign, 
equalled, in number, all the rest of the inhabitants of the 
city; and caused several of its streets, for the first time, to 
be paved. 

The Provencal poets were justly celebrated, at this pe- 
riod, in most of the countries of Europe- They were called 
also Troubadours, or Finders, from the fertility of their in- 
vention. They were invited to the courts of the greatest 
princes; where they were respected equally by the brave 
and the fair, as they celebrated the achievements of the one, 
and the charms of the other. They were named Provencal 
poets, because they inhabited chiefly the southern provinces 
of France, comprehended under the name of Provence; and, 
because the language of this district, at that time the purest 
dialect of the French language, was common to them all. 
The troubadours imparted to it new charms, and more ex- 
tended fame. Dispersed through most of the courts of 
Europe, they created a relish for their compositions, and 



82 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

gave a celebrity to their language, almost as great as the 
best modern productions have given to our own. Italy, 
Spain, England, and even Germany, listened to these Am- 
phions; admired, and attempted to imitate them; and thus 
promoted the reformation and refinement of the language of 
these several countries. 

Nothing was more honourable to the troubadours, than to 
have the Italians for their disciples; who not only equalled, 
but surpassed their masters. At the end of the thirteenth 
century, Dante raised the Italian language to perfection; and, 
from that time, it took the lead of the Provencal. Petrarch 
then appeared, love inspired his muse, and he poured forth, 
in the very country of the troubadours, numbers so eloquent 
and melodious, that their language, their poetry, and their 
name, almost entirely disappeared. 

The compositions of the troubadours, may be divided into 
the gallant, the historical, the didactic, and the satirical. 
The last are the most valuable, as they explain the manners, 
and corrected the vices of the times. The didactic pieces 
are few, but curious: some of them comprehend the maxims 
of universal morality; others, instructions relative to the 
different conditions of society, to the candidates in chivalry, 
to the ladies, the poets, and the jongleurs. 

The first troubadour, on record, was William, count of 
Poitou; who flourished about the beginning of the eleventh 
century. He united figure, ability, and courage, to the 
advantages of birth and fortune; but he degraded them all, 
by the extreme licentiousness of Ins manners. Indeed, the 
language of nearly all the hards of the same school, betrays 
an impurity of real or affected feeling, wholly dissonant from 
the chastened sentiments and manners of the present age. 

GeofFry Rudel was prince of Blaye, a town near Bour- 
deaux. This troubadour was distinguished by a passion, 
most singularly romantic— Tripoli, in Palestine, had been 
taken by the Christians, when the fame of the Countess of 
Tripoli warmed the imagination of Rudel. From the re* 
presentation given of her beauty and her virtue, by the pil- 
grims who returned from the east, he was transported by 
the most ardent desire of beholding her; and therefore took 
the cross, and embarked. But, just as he was about to land, 
at Tripoli, he fell down, to all appearance, dead; and was 
laid m the first house they reached, by the companions of 
his voyage. They ran to inform the Countess, of an event 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 8S 

so calculated to excite her compassion. The affection of 
Geoffrey, the motive and the circumstances of his voyage, 
and his unhappy destiny, just as he touched the port, pe- 
netrated the soul of one so full of sensibility, who, un- 
known to herself, had lighted up, at so great a distance, so 
ardent and wonderful a name. She came out, immediately, 
to behold this victim of romantic love. Geoffrey yet breathed. 
She embraces him: he fixes his eyes on her, and then, lift- 
ing them up to heaven, with joy, expires in her arms! 

The Countess had him magnificently buried, amongst the 
Knights -templars, at Tripoli; and, the same day, whether 
from grief or piety, devoted herself to the cloister. 

Peter d'Auvergne was the son of a citizen, in the diocese 
of Clermont. A talent for poetry, joined to a fine figure, 
an amiable character, and a cultivated mind, procured him 
much success: many high barons, and noble ladies, treated 
him with favour; and he passed for the best writer amongst 
the troubadours, till the appearance of Gerald Borneil. 
D'Auvergne was so well received, by the ladies, that, after 
reciting his works to them, he was rewarded with a kiss, 
from those who pleased him the most. 

Arnaud Daniel was born, in the twelfth century, in the 
castle of Ribeyrac, in Perigord, of poor, hut noble parents. 
His taste was not for study, but he was passionately fond of 
rhyming. Dante says, that Arnaud excelled in singing the 
praise of love; and that his tender, verse, and his romantic 
prose, surpassed every thing that had appeared before, of 
the same Kind. Petrarch speaks of him as the most cele- 
brated of all the Provencal poets: he even imitated, and 
borrowed a verse from one of his sonnets; the only Pro- 
vencal to whom he has done that honour. 

Most of his pieces are sonnets, addressed probably to the 
wife of William de Bouville, whom he admired. " The re- 
turn of spring," he says, in one of these, " invites my song, 
and the enamel of the meadows animates it, with all the 
gay and beautiful variety of the flowers: but the flowers 
that I gather, shall have love for their fruit, as they have 
joy for their grain; and their perfume shall surpass that di- 
vine odour, which the month of May spreads over the mea- 
dows ! I love the most beautiful woman in the world ! I 
have frequented many courts; the pleasure I receive from 
gay tents, refreshing alcoves, and magnificent balconies, 
where the ladies sit to assist at the tournaments, bears no 



84 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

proportion to my joy in beholding her. I have masses said* 
and lamps and tapers burned, to render her propitious; for 
she is, next to God, the object of my worship. My love is 
shut up within my heart; and she who inspires it, knows it 
not. Alas ! how should she ? When at a distance, I have 
a hundred things to say; when I approach her, I know not 
where to begin. I sigh in vain! I pursue her with the 
swiftness of a hare; yet my approach is like the slow and 
heavy steps of an ox. " 

Arnaud composed the airs for his songs; for which rea- 
son, he has been included amongst the jongleurs; whose 
profession it was to sing the pieces of the troubadours: but 
the jongleurs were sometimes also poets, as is evinced from 
the following curious anecdote:— 

In a voyage, made by Arnaud, into England, he met, at 
the court of the king, a jongleur, who challenged him to try 
his skill with him, in the composition of some verses. " You 
pique yourself," said his rival, "on excelling in difficult 
rhymes* — let us see which of us can perform the best" — 
The challenge was accepted, the wager laid, and the two 
bards shut themselves up, in separate chambers. The king 
had given them ten days, for the composition, and five to 
learn their pieces; after which they were to be sung or re- 
cited in his presence. — On the third day, the jongleur 
announces that he is prepared. Arnaud affects to be diverted 
at this; saying, that, for his part, he has not given himself 
the trouble to set about the work. He had, however, la- 
boured, but could not compose a line. 

One evening, in despair at this unexpected failure, he 
heard the jongleur repeating, with a loud voice, in his cham- 
ber: the same tiling happened on the following days; he 
listened attentively, and at last made himself master, both 
of the air and the words. — On the day appointed, they appear- 
ed before the king. Arnaud desires to sing the first. What 
was the astonishment of the jongleur! " It is my song," he 
cried out, interrupting the poet. "That cannot be," said 
the king.— The jongleur, however, insists upon it, and con- 
jures the king to question Arnaud; assuring him, that he 
will not have the impudence to deny the fact. The trouba- 
dour was charged with the imposture, and confessed the 
fraud. This adventure amused the king; who, after having 
restored to each the money which he had staked, loaded 
them both with presents; but exacted from Arnaud a song. 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 85 

Savary was a rich baron of Porton, lord of Mauleon, and 
of several other fiefs. He was a brave and gallant knight; re- 
nowned for poetry, for his skill in tournaments, and for his 
taste and elegance at all public diversions. A visit paid by 
this lord, to Madame Guiilemette de Benevias, in company 
with two other lords, was the foundation of a dialogue on 
three different proofs of love, and on which of them deserved 
the preference. 

Each of these lords had besought the love of Madame 
Guiilemette. Being seated, one at her right hand, the other 
at her left, and the third before her; she eyed the one with 
tenderness, pressed the hand of the other, and touched the 
foot of Savary; giving him, at the same time, a kind and 

fracious smile. Savary went to his two friends, Gancelm 
'ardit, and Hugues de Bacalaria, and desired they would 
resolve him, to which of the three the lady had shown the 
most affection. — "I think," replied Gancelm, "to him who 
received the tender look: that always arises from the soul. 
The pressure of the hand is a courtesy which belongs to all 
those who are politely received; and to touch the foot, may 
arise from accident, and is no proof of love." — "In my 
opinion," said Hugues, " the look is of no signification; for 
kind looks are addressed to all, as well as to those whom 
they foolishly intrap. Nor do I attach any importance to 
touching the foot: but, when a white hand, without glove, 
presses tenderly its friend, this is a certain proof of the 
love that proceeds from the heart." — " I rejoice," exclaim- 
ed Savary, "that you have left me the best proof of love. 
To touch the foot, is a favour of the highest kind, because 
hidden from the penetration of others; and, being accompa- 
nied with a gracious smile, it is assuredly a proof of a frank 
and sincere affection. I am astonished, that Gancelm pre- 
fers the look; he who has the reputation of being so skilful 
in the art of love." — "You do ill," rejoined Gancelm, "to 
slight the tenderness of looks. The eyes are the messen- 
gers of the soul; they announce to those beloved, what a 
tond timidity would conceal from others: they are the de- 
positories of the whole treasures of love, and will be under- 
stood, by hearts united in affection." 

These gallant amusements were the serious occupation 
of heroes and poets, in that age. In another fragment of 
Savary, he thus singularly expresses himself, to Ills mis- 
tress: — 

H 



86 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

"Lady, you have conquered all the world. It is the 
height of my ambition, to conquer you. I have assembled 
Basques and Brabaneons; and thanks to my care, we are 
five-hundred in number, who will punctually execute your 
orders. Explain your wishes; give us your commands. 
Our coursers are ready bridled: we will mount them in- 
stantly, in your cause." 

Folquet de Lunel is known chiefly by his satire on per- 
sons in the various conditions of life. "No longer," says 
this troubadour, "do we behold emperors, kings, priests, 
dukes, counts, or barons, serving God! The recovery of 
the holy sepulchre, is now wholly neglected, and the Turks 
remain the peaceable possessors of Jerusalem ! — By excom- 
munications, priests gain the summit of their wishes. The 
emperor exercises injustice against the kings; the kings 
against the counts; the counts despoil the barons; the ba- 
rons seize the possessions of their vassals, and pillage their 
peasants. The farmers and the shepherds, in their turns, 
commit frauds and injustice, and pay not the daily wages 
of their labourers. Physicians take upon themselves a pro- 
fession, of which they are ignorant; they kill, while they 
pretend to cure, and yet they oblige men to pay them for 
their slaughter. Merchants and artists are thieves and 
liars. Jongleurs run about the world, to spread abroad their 
false histories. Innkeepers address you with civility, and 
make haste to serve you; the hostess is full of complaisance; 
the servants are attentive to your minutest orders; you 
agree that they shall partake of your provision; you furnish 
them with geese, partridge, excellent meats, white bread, 
and unmixed wine. In return, they sell you bad hay, and 
rotten corn, and take care to give you only half measure. 
Besides this, their mangers are pierced through with holes, 
and what is put in to them, for your horses, runs through to 
their pigs, who are enjoying a comfortable meal, at your ex- 
pense, while you are sleeping in hard beds, and dirty sheets; 
and after all this, you are overwhelmed with injuries, if you 
do not pay a double price for the things set down to your 
account. 

" Ye heretics; ye Vaudois; ye usurers; ye unfaithful de- 
positories; ye infidel blasphemers; ye defrauding watermen 
and toll -gatherers, who restore not to your masters, what 
you have received for them; ye bailiffs, who unjustly seize 
the little all of the poor; ye unworthy borrowers, who pay 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 87 

not again, but live on the property of others; — against you 
all, do I lift up my voice: fear the pains of hell; and think 
of the joys of paradise." 

William de la Jour was born in the castle of la Jour, in 
Perigord. Love turned his head, and the account given of 
him seems to be that of a madman. The object of his pas- 
sion, was a barber's wife, at Milan. She was young and 
handsome: he carried her off, and brought her to Come. 
Soon after this, she died; which affected him with so violent 
grief, that it deprived him of his reason. He was persuaded 
that she was not dead; for ten days, he remained fixed to 
her tomb. He opened it every night; he drew her out; he 
looked earnestly at her; he embraced, he kissed her! He 
conjured her to "tell him, whether she was dead or alive; to 
return with him, if she lived; or, in case she were dead, to 
declare to him what she suffered in purgatory; for he would 
then bestow so many alms, and have so many masses said 
for her soul, that he would purchase her deliverance. 

Informed of his madness, the inhabitants of Come ex- 
pelled him from their town, and from their country. He 
wandered from place to place, seeking, every where, for as- 
trologers, to know from them whether his mistress could be 
restored to life. One of them made a sport of his wretched 
condition, and assured him that she would infallibly rise 
again, if he recited, each day, for a year, the whole psalter, 
with live-hundred paters and aves, and gave alms to seven 
poor people; but that he must do all this, each day, before 
ne either eat or drank. The miserable man was in ectasies, 
at this discovery, and punctually executed the prescribed 
conditions; but, finding himself no nearer his wishes at the 
end of the year, than at the beginning, he died, in despair. 

Peter Vidal might justly be called the Don Quixotte of 
the troubadours. He was the son of a tanner, at Toulouse. 
Born with a poetic talent, and a melodious voice, he soared 
above his situation, and engaged in that career of genius, 
which, in this age, was so advantageous. His love of the 
fair sex was his principal inducement to this course of life. He 
admired every beautiful woman, and with a presumption not 
uncommon, he believed himself to be equally admired by her. 
His behaviour to the greatest lords, was full of extravagance, 
and led them to consider him an agreeable fool, formed for 
the amusement of their courts. In the first part of his life, 
he received a terrible lesson, from a knight of Saint Gillesj 



88 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

of whose wife, Vidal having spoken lightly, the knight re- 
venged himself, by slitting the poet's tongue. But a noble- 
man feeling compassion for him, had the garrulous minstrel 
cured. Some time afterwards, he followed Richard I. king 
of England, into Palestine; where his bravadoes where 
those of a madman. " My enemies," says he, " tremble at 
my name, the earth shakes at my steps, and all that oppose 
me, I bruise and cut to pieces." 

While Vidal was thus boasting of his prowess, a singular 
trick was played upon him, in Cyprus. His companions 
induced him to marry a young Greek, pretending that she 
was niece to the emperor of the east, and that to her the 
empire would be transferred. In this design on his vanity, 
they completely succeeded. They beheld him usurp the 
title of emperor, give that of empress to his wife, and in- 
vest himself with the insignia of imperial rank. But being 
wearied with acting a part, which he at length discovered to 
be fictitious, he returned to his native country, and engaged 
in another adventure, in which he appeared completely 
mad. 

Smitten with a lady of Carcassone, called Louve de Pen- 
antier, he caused himself to be called Loup, or Wolf, in her 
honour; and engaged himself to submit to all the perils of 
being hunted in a wolf's skin, for her sake. In this dis- 
guise, the shepherds, with their mastiffs and greyhounds, 
drove him into the mountains; and, so cruelly was he man- 
gled — for he would not suffer the dogs to be taken off, till 
they had almost killed him — that they carried him home, 
as dead, to his mistress. The lady and her husband at- 
tended to his cure, but they ridiculed his lamentable folly. 
Nor were these all his extravagances. On the death of his 
lord, Raymond count of Toulouse, he exhibited unparallel- 
led proofs of his affection. He dressed himself in the deepest 
mourning, cut off the ears and tails of his horses, and his 
own hair, suffered his beard and his nails to grow to an im- 
moderate length, and required the same marks of distress 
from all his servants. 

The remainder of Vidal's career, displayed a similar tis- 
sue of romantic madness. In the last years of his life, he 
was more excited, than ever, with a desire of possessing the 
empire of the east; he made a second voyage for that pur- 
pose, and died, in the year 1229, two years after his re- 
turn. 



Dfl 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 89 

The Monk of Montaudon was born of a noble family of 
Auvergne, in the castle of Vie. Weary of the cloister, he 
obtained permission, from his superior, to repair to the 
court of the king of Arragon, to receive the commands of 
that prince. This was, in fact, being allowed to become a 
troubadour. From the court of Arragon, he travelled into 
Spain; where he continued^ several years, and obtained 
many honours and rewards. His gallant poems are only 
repetitions of the fervour and distinctions of love; but, in 
some other pieces, he paints his own character and feelings, 
and those of others, with ingenuity and freedom. 

" I love," says he, " a court filled with persons of worth; 
a man who is ashamed of and repents of his sins; joy, good 
cheer, and handsome presents. I love fine fat salmon, at 
noon; an amiable mistress by the side of a purling stream; 
and a dear friend every where. I hate small gifts; a poor 
and proud knight; young people who talk much and loud; 
and the society of low people and uncourteous knights. 
I hate a lord who wears arms to no purpose; a monk and a 
priest with great beards; and a husband who doats on his 
wife. I hate too much water, and too little wine; and the 
priest who perjures and lies. J hate those who speak ill of 
dice, and who will not engage in play; and a damsel who 
makes a parade of her handsome foot. I hate a large table, 
and a scanty cloth, a man who marries his maid, and a 
woman who espouses her valet. But, above all, do I hate 
a baron who rides his horses to death; and a friend who 
fails in the time of need. " 

A further idea may be formed of the manners of the age, 
from a ridiculous and impious ceremony, which had been 
hitherto tolerated, not only in the church of Paris, but in 
several other cathedrals of the kingdom. In the capital, it 
was called "The Fools' Festival*' — in other places, "The 
Festival of the Innocents." The priests and clerks assem- 
bled, elected a pope and a bishop, whom they conducted, 
in great pomp, to the church; where they appeared arrayed 
in different whimsical dresses, representing women, animals, 
or buffoons; and dancing, and singing obscene songs. They 
converted the altar into a sideboard; where, during the 
celebration of mass, they eat and drank, played at dice, 
burned their old sandals, instead of incense, and ran and 
jumped about, exhibiting a variety of indecent postures. 
h 2 



90 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 



LOUIS VIII., 

SURNAMED THE LION. 

1223— -1226. 

Louis VIII. , who ascended the throne in the thirty-se- 
venth year of his age, distinguished himself more during the 
reign of his father, than in his own. The valour and abili- 
ties, shown by him, in numerous engagements in England, 
whither he had been sent, to aid the barons against king John, 
afforded strong evidence of his possessing the qualities of a 
great prince. But his reign extended little beyond three 
years; and its history is only a repetition of battles and sieges, 
in defence of Normandy, and the other continental territo- 
ries wrested from the crown of England by his father; and 
of wars carried on against the Albigenses. 

It was at the commencement of this reign, that pope 
Honorius III. confirmed the celebrated order of the Mi- 
nors, the first mendicants; distinguished by the appellation 
of Cordeliers^ from the cord which they wore round their 
waist. 

LOUIS IX., 

COMMONLY CALLED SAINT LOUIS. 

1226—1270. 

The late king was succeeded by his son, Louis IX., 
commonly called St. Louis; now only in his thirteenth 
year. 

During his minority, various disorders arose, in France, 
occasioned chiefly by the ambition of the powerful vassals 
of the crown: but all these were happily composed, by the 
prudence and abilities of the queen-mother, Blanche of 
Castile. 

iQoq ^y tne exhortations of the pope, the regent was 
induced to send a body of troops into Languedoc, 
against the Albigenses. The war was then renewed, with 
additional vigour; and. conducted, by the king's general, 
Beaujeu, in a manner worthy of the cause in which he had 
embarked. Every morning, at the dawn of day, the troops 
attended mass, and prayed most devoutly: they then par- 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 91 

took of a slight repast, and three separate detachments were 
sent, to scour the country. The first were armed with pick- 
axes, for the purpose of demolishing the houses; the second, 
with spades, for digging up the vines; and the third, with 
scythes, for mowing down the green corn, and every thing 
else that they met with in the fields; a system of destruc- 
tion, regularly pursued in the environs of Toulouse, for 
three months. 

The count of Toulouse was at length compelled to listen 
to overtures of peace. The terms imposed upon him were 
oppressive: but, abandoned by his subjects, he was obliged 
to submit; and to purchase an exemption from ecclesiasti- 
cal tyranny and persecution, by the payment of consider- 
able sums of money, to monasteries and churches, and the 
cession of his hereditary dominions, to the king of France. — 
Thus, terminated the crusade against the Albigenses, after 
a cruel and sanguinary war of twenty years. 

Every layman was, by a recent edict, forbidden to keep 
either the Bible or Testament in his house; and was permit- 
ted to have only the Psalter, the Breviary, or the Book of 
Prayers, in Latin, but not in the vulgar tongue. 

No sooner had Louis reached the years of manhood, than 
he was universally acknowledged to be the greatest prince 
in Europe: but his character is perhaps the most singular 
to be found in history. To the abject superstition of a monk, 
he united not only all the courage and magnanimity of a 
hero, but the justice and integrity of a sincere patriot; and, 
when religion was not concerned, the mildness and hu- 
manity of a true philosopher. 

Henry III., an imbecile prince, was, at this time, king 
of England; and encouraged the vassals of the French 
crown, in frequent rebellions. Of these, one of the most 
restless was the duke of Brittany; who, when the English 
monarch, employed at home, by disputes with his own sub- 
jects, could no longer aid him in his revolts, threw himself 
at his sovereign's feet, with a rope about his neck, imploring 
mercy, and declaring that he surrendered to him all his do- 
minions, and also his own person, to be punished as the king 
should direct. 

1244 '^ e "^ adherence of Louis, to orthodoxy, wa9 

his foible. Persuaded that heretics, or those who 

did not hold the established belief of the Roman Catholic 

church*' deserved the punishment of death, he favoured the 



92 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

tribunal of the inquisition; and the same disposition of mind, 
led him to ascribe merit to a war against infidels. A dange- 
rous illness having deprived him of his senses, and almost 
of his life, he made a vow, as soon as he recovered, to engage 
in a new crusade; and immediately assumed the cross. 
1 948 Though he could not be dissuaded from the ex- 

pedition, he was in no hurry to depart. He spent 
four years, in making preparations, and in settling the go- 
vernment of his kingdom, which he left to the care of nis 
mother. 

It was decreed, at a parliament held at Paris, that all 
private wars should cease, during five years; that no process 
should be instituted against the crusaders, on account of 
debt, for the term of three years; and that the clergy should 
pay one-tenth of their revenues to the king. Tins last re- 
gulation excited great murmurs, amongst the clergy; who 
had hitherto highly applauded the crusade; and were par- 
ticularly offended at the tax being levied by the commis- 
sioners of the pope. One of these ministers of extortion, 
meeting a village-clerk, with some pieces of bread, which 
he had collected in carrying holy water from house to house, 
requested to know how much his profits, in that occupation, 
amounted to, in a year; and, being told that they produced 
about twenty sols, he immediately insisted on the payment 
of two sols, for the pope; witli which demand, the poor man 
was obliged to comply. 

At length, with a fleet of eighteen-hundred vessels, the 
king bent his course to Cyprus; accompanied by his queen, 
his three brothers, and nearly all the knights of France. 

At Cyprus, it was resolved to make a descent upon Egypt; 
as it was supposed that the Holy Land could not be preserved 
to the Christians, while that country was in [possession of 
the Mahometans. A flattering ray of success shone upon 
his first attempt. The soldiers, in the ship which bore the 
Oriflamme, or standard of St. Dennis, leaped out upon the 
ground: the king seeing that banner on the bank, could not 
restrain himself, but threw himself into the sea, sword-in- 
hand; and the knights and his troops did the same. He 
landed near Damietta; which, contrary to all expectation, 
the garrison and inhabitants, terrified by a false report of; 
the sultan's death, had abandoned. He made his entry into 
the city, in the manner of a procession, barefooted, with the 
queen, his brother, and all the nobles of the army; preceded 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 93 

by the legate of the pope, bearing an elevated cross, the 
patriarch of Jerusalem, the bishops, and all the clergy of 
the camp. 

He afterwards received fresh succours from France, and 
found himself in the plains of Egypt, at the head of sixty- 
thousand men; the flower of his kingdom, by whom he was 
both obeyed and loved. But " the battle is not always to 
1250 ^ ie stron S*" This crusade, like the two by which 
it had been preceded, ended in sorrow and dis- 
appointment. One half of these fine troops, fell a prey to 
debauchery and sickness; the remainder was defeated, by the 
sultan, at Massoura; where Louis beheld his brother Robert 
of Artois, killed, by his side, and himself taken prisoner, 
with his two other brothers, the counts of Anjou and Poic- 
tiers, and all his nobles. 

In this battle, extraordinary valour was displayed, on 
both sides. The Mahometans were in hopes of surprising 
the camp of Louis; but, before thev reached it, the king 
having been informed of their intention, by his scouts, had 
formed his army in order of battle, near the camp. At 
noon, tin Mahometans sounded the charge, with drums and 
trumpets. A flight of a prodigious number of darts and 
arrows, was sustained, with much resolution, by the Christian 
soldiers: but they were disconcerted by the wild-fire, which 
they had not before seen used, in battles. It enwrapped in 
flame the men's clothes, and the caparisons of their horses; 
of which, the troopers were no longer masters. The terrible 
cries of those who were burning, were every where to be 
heard; the Mahometans took advantage of this confusion, 
and put nearly all the invaders to the rout. 

The French, however, were still in possession of Damietta. 
There, the queen lodged; but, thinking her safety doubtful, 
as the place was besieged, she addressed herself to the Sieur 
Joinville, a venerable knight, and made him promise, on the 
faith of chivalry, to cut off her head, should her person be 
in danger of insult. — "Most readily," answered Joinville, 
in the true spirit of the times, "will I perform, at your re- 
quest, what, indeed, I designed to do, of myself, should it 
be made necessary, by misfortune." — But, he had happily 
no occasion to execute his promise. Damietta was main- 
tained, and a treaty was concluded, with the sultan; by 
which, that city was restored, in consideration of the king's 



94 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

liberty, and a thousand pieces of gold, paid for the ransom 
of the other prisoners. 

1 254 '^^ ie zea * °^ kouis, against the Mahometans, was 
not cooled, by his calamity in Egypt. Religious 
devotion led him to Palestine; where he continued three 
years, without effecting any thing of importance. But the 
death of the queen-mother, determined him, at length, to 
return to France. 

His love of justice, his care to reform abuses, his wise 
laws, and virtuous example, soon removed the evils occa- 
sioned by his absence. He prohibited private wars, which 
the feudal anarchy had cherished; substituted judicial pro- 
cess, for the superstitious mode of trial by duel; and, no 
less enlightened than pious, rescued France from the ex- 
actions of the court of Rome. 

We have spoken of the justice of the king of France. 
When not excited by the bigotry of the age in which he 
lived, this character is true: but surely no man can strictly 
be called just, who uses violence against another, because 
he differs from him in religious faith. This charge stands 
1270 recor d e d against Louis. Hoping to make a^convert 
of the king of Tunis, he landed on the coast of Africa* 
at the head of his troops. But the Tunisian prince refused 
to become a Christian; the French troops were seized with 
an epidemic distemper; of which, Louis saw one of his sons 
expire, and another at the point of death; when he himself 
caught the infection, and died, in the fifty-sixth year of his 
age, and the forty-fourth of his reign. 

Louis had no sooner resigned his breath, than the sound 
of trumpets announced the arrival of the king of Sicily, his 
brother. Astonished to find his salute unanswered, Charles 
began to be alarmed; and, leaving his troops to the care of 
his officers, he galloped towards the royal tent; where, the 
first object that presented itself to his sight, was the corpse 
of his brother, extended on those ashes, which the pious 
monarch had chosen for his death-bed. 

The remains of Louis were conveyed to Paris; and, 
twenty-seven years afterwards, he was canonized by pope 
Boniface VIII. 

We have already noticed the strict attention of Louis, to 
a prompt and partial administration of justice. He greatly 
encouraged the practice of appeals, and frequently adminis- 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 95 

tered justice, with all the ancient simplicity, in person. "J. 
have often seen the saint," says Joinville, "sitting under 
the shade of an oak, in the wood of Vincennes; when all 
who had any complaint, freely approached him. At other 
times, he gave orders to spread a carpet in a garden ; and, 
seating himself upon it, heard the causes that were brought 
before him." 

A poor priest came one day to this monarch when he was 
at his devotions in the church, and told him that the bailiffs 
were about to arrest him for a sum which he was unable to 
pay. The king immediately ordered him the money, saying, 
'« You have very luckily chosen the time to address me. It 
is but just, that I should show some compassion to the dis- 
tressed, when I have been entreating God to have some 
compassion on myself. " 

A poor woman complained one day to Louis, that the 
priests would not inter her husband in holy ground, because 
he had died insolvent. — " Good woman," said he, I did not 
make the law, I assure you. Here is some money, to pay 
your husband's debts, and I will order the priests to bury 
him as you wish." 

Louis, as we have before mentioned, abolished the absurd 
and barbarous custom of trial by combat, and introduced 
the trial by evidence, in its stead. But his regulations, 
with respect to this, were confined to his own domains. The 
great vassals of the crown, possessed so independent 
authority, and were so fondly attached to the ancient 
practice, that he durst not venture to extend it to the whole 
kingdom. 

In order to stop the encroachments of the pope, and the 
licentious conduct of his ministers, Louis issued that famous 
ordonnance, so well known by the name of the Pragmatic 
Sanction. In this, he confirmed the prelates and all the 
patrons of livings, in the full enjoyment of their rights 5 se- 
cured the liberties of the Gallican church, from the invasions 
of the court of Rome; banished simony from the kingdom, 
as a pest highly injurious to religion; and forbade the court 
of Rome to levy, in future, any of those imposts which had 
impoverished the kingdom, without his express permission, 
-and the consent of the Gallican church. 

Two orders of monks, both mendicants, were settled at 
Paris, during this reign. The famous college of the Sor- 
bonne, was also established, for the study of theology, by 



96 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

an ecclesiastic, named Robert, of obscure parents, (the con- 
fessor of St., Louis) who resided at Sorbonne, a small village, 
in the Rhetelois. 

PHILIP III. 

i 1270—1285. 

After the death of the late monarch, on the coast of Af- 
rica, his son and successor, Philip III., (surnamed the 
Hardy) having defeated the Tunisians, concluded with them 
a treaty of peace; and thus, saved the shattered remains of 
the French army. 

This was the sixth and last of those wild expeditions, 
which, during a period of one-hundred-and-seventy-four 
years, had disturbed the peace both of Asia and Europe; and 
drained France, of more than two-millions of inhabitants. 

Twenty-one years afterwards, (in 1291) the sultan Calib 
took the city of Acre, the firmest rampart of the eastern 
Christians, by assault; and, soon after the reduction of that 
important place, the crusaders were easily and finally ex- 
pelled from the Holy Land. Palestine was abandoned to 
the Saracens; and the wretched enthusiasts, who had left 
their native homes, in quest of imaginary glory, were now 
constrained to wander, destitute and forsaken, over the face 
of the earth, in search of those real comforts, which they 
had vainly sacrificed to visionary hopes. 

After Philip's return to France, his reign was not mark- 
ed by any great event; being spent chiefly in humbling the 
refractory nobles in the southern provinces; and in unim- 
portant wars, with the kings of Castile and Arragon. 
128 „ He died, at Perpignan, in the forty -first year of 
his age, and the sixteenth of his reign. 

PHILIP IV., 

Surnamed the Fair.. 

1285—1314. 

The reign of Philip IV., surnamed the Fair, who suc- 
ceeded his father, Philip the Hardy, in his eighteenth year, 
and was crowned king of Navarre, in right of his wife, 
forms an era in the History of France, by the civil and po- 
litical regulations which it produced; the institution of tke 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 97 

supreme tribunals, called Parliaments ; and the formal ad- 
mission of the Commons, or Third Estate, into the general 
assemblies of the nation; a right which had existed amongst 
the ancients Franks. 

The composing of all differences with his neighbours, 
Philip was enabled to effect, by the mediation of his broth- 
er-in-law, Edward I., of England; against whom, however, 
he afterwards ungenerously commenced hostilities, while 
that monarch was engaged in a war with Scotland. 

This rupture with the English nation, was caused by an 
incident of but trifling importance. A Norman and an 
English vessel met, off the coast, near Bayonne; and both 
having occasion for water, they sent their boats ashore, and 
the several crews came, at the same time, to the same 
spring. A quarrel ensued, when a Norman, drawing his 
dagger, attempted to stab an Englishman; who, grappling 
with him, threw his adversary upon the ground, and the 
Norman, as was pretended, falling upon his own dagger, 
was slain. This scuffle between two seamen, about water, 
soon kindled a destructive war between the two countries, 
and involved a great part of Europe in the quarrel. The 
mariners of the Norman ship, carried their complaints to 
the French king; and Philip, without inquiring into the fact, 
or demanding redress, bade them take revenge, and trouble 
him no more about the matter. The Normans needed only 
this hint, to proceed to immediate violence. They seized 
an English ship, in the channel; and, hanging, along with 
some dogs, several of the crew, on the yard-arm, dismissed 
the vessel, and bade the mariners to inform their country- 
men, that vengeance was now taken for the murder of the 
Norman. 

We must not pass over, unnoticed, the transactions be- 
tween Philip and the court of Rome; nor the extinction of 
the celebrated order of knights templars, which happened 
in this reign. 

.j™ Pope Boniface VIII. had prohibited the clergy 
from granting any subsidies to princes, without his 
leave. Philip thought that the clergy, being the richest 
order in the state, should contribute to the wants of the 
crown, without any application to Rome: he therefore en- 
countered the pope's bull, by an edict, forbidding any of 
the French clergy from sending money abroad, without the 
royal permission. There was accordingly despatched, to 



98 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

France, a legate; who threatened the kingdom with an in* 
terdict, and the king himself with excommunication: but 
Philip, despising the papal thunder, ordered him to be con- 
fined, and assembled the states of the kingdom; bj whom, 
his conduct, in this delicate matter, was approved. 

The king was now at liberty to treat the pope as an open 
enemy. He accordingly leagued with the family of Cologna; 
a body of desperadoes 'were suddenly collected, in Italy; 
with which, William and Sciara Cologna surprised Boniface, 
at Anagni, a town in his dominions, exclaiming, " Let the 
pope die, and long live the king of France!" Boniface, 
however, did not lose his courage. Having dressed him- 
self in his cope, and put the tiara upon his head, holding 
the keys in one hand, and the cross in the other, he pre- 
sented himself, with an air of majesty, before his conqueror; 
a gallant behaviour; which had such an effect upon the minds 
oi the inhabitants, that they rose against his enemies, and 
rescued him from their hands. 

A reconciliation was soon afterwards effected, between 
Boniface and Philip. He granted the avaricious monarch a 
tenth of the revenues of the clergy, for three years; and, 
farther to gratify him, he canonized his ancestor, Saint 
Louis, after sixty -three miracles had been duly verified: "a 
canonization," says the pope, in one of his panegyrics upon 
that monarch, " which produced more writings, than an ass 
could carry." 

The next pope, Benedict XI., was of a disposition oppo- 
site to that of Boniface. That pontiff was succeeded by 
1308 Element V., a native of France; who removed the 
seat of the papal government, from Rome, to Avignon, 
where it continued during a period of sixty-eight years. * 

To the cause assigned for this removal, we do not willing- 
ly give credence. Some historians have made no scruple 
to ascribe it to the pope's attachment to the countess of Pe- 
rigord, daughter of the count de Foix; a lady of exquisite 
beauty, from whom he could not bear to part. 

The usual dress of the men, in these times, was, the long 
tunic, with a robe or cloak, and sometimes both, over it: the 
short jacket, except in camp, being confined to servants. 
The cloak, particularly when trimmed with fur, was worn 
only by persons of a certain rank. It was fastened with a 

* Until 1376. 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 99 

clasp, on the right shoulder, so as to allow full liberty to the 
right arm; was tucked up, on the left side, above the sword, 
and hung loose behind, as low as the ground. — The different 
classes of the nobility, were distinguished by the breadth of 
the border of their cloaks, by the quality of the fur or ermine 
with which it was trimmed, the size of the cape, and length 
of the train. The cloak of a duke, count, baron, or knight, 
was made of scarlet or violet cloth. Hats were not yet 
known. Caps were worn, of velvet, or of cloth: the first, 
which were laced, were confined to kings, princes, and knights. 
Over the cap, was worn a kind of hood, with a cushion at 
the top, and a tail hanging down behind. This part of the 
head dress, common to both sexes, was called a chaperon. 
The chaperons of people of distinction, were larger than those 
of others, and trimmed with fur: those of the common people 
were plain, and formed like a sugar-loaf. 

During the reign of Philip, the long shoes, turned up at 
the toes, were introduced into France. They are said to 
have been first worn by a nobleman, who had a large fleshy 
excrescence at the end of one of his feet, for the purpose of 
concealing that deformity. They soon became general; and, 
thenceforth, a man's rank was known by the length of his 
shoes. Those of a prince were two feet and a half in length; 
those of a baron, two feet; while a simple knight was reduced, 
to a foot and a half, and a plain citizen to one. — The bishops 
long exclaimed, in vain, against this absurd custom; which 
they called " a sin against nature" — an insult to the Creator; 
and the wearing of such shoes was nearly declared heresy. 
To effect its abolition, all those who followed it were sentenced 
to pay a fine of ten florins; a regulation which had the de- 
sired effect : but the long shoes were succeeded by large 
slippers, above a foot wide. 

The religious and military order of knights templars, 
which had arisen during the first excitement of the crusades, 
had made rapid advances, in credit and authority; and ac- 
quired, from the piety of the faithful, ample possessions, in 
every Christian country, particularly in France. But their 
inclination was at length changed. Relinquishing their fruit- 
less expeditions into Asia, and scorning the ignoble occu- 
pations of a monastic life, they passed their time in the 
Fashionable amusements of hunting and gallantry, and the 
pleasures of the table. To the last, they were particularly 
addicted; and a French proverb is still in use — Boire comme 



100 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

un Templier — (to drink like a Templar); which attests their 
attachment to the bottle. 

The severity of the taxes, and the maladministration of 
Philip, with regard to the coin, which he had repeatedly 
altered in its value, occasioned an insurrection in Paris. 
The knights Templars were accused of partaking in the 
tumult. They were affluent, the king was in want of mo- 
ney, and he determined to involve the whole order in one 
undistinguished ruin. They were charged with robbery, 
murder, and idolatry, and all the vices most shocking to 
human nature. Above a hundred knights were stretched 
upon the rack; great numbers were burned alive; their trea- 
ioia sures were seized, and pope Clement V., by the 
plenitude of his apostolic power, in a general council, 
at Vienne, without examining a single witness, or making 
any inquiry into the charges alleged against them, and con- 
trary to the opinion of all the bishops of Europe, except four, 
abolished the whole order; and, in consequence, their lands 
were seized, and the Templars, in every part of Europe, 
were imprisoned. 

1314 Philip did not long survive this barbarous injus- 
tice. The failure of an attack upon the count of 
Flanders, together with some domestic misfortunes, threw 
him into a languishing consumption; which closed his in- 
triguing life, in the forty-seventh year of his age, and thir- 
tieth of his reign. 

He left three sons, — Louis, Philip, and Charles; all of 
whom were kings of France, in succession; and also one 
daughter, Isabella, married to Edward II., king of England. 

It was in this reign, (in the year 1302,) that the Commons 
were first summoned to attend the national assemblies. In- 
deed, this may be considered the true epoch of National 
Parliaments, in France; which, by a royal edict, were ap- 
pointed to be held twice every year, at Paris. 

Philip founded the University of Orleans, was attached to 
the study of the belles-lettres, and extended his patronage 
and protection to every one who cultivated the sciences. 

Amongst the celebrated characters that flourished during 
this reign, were William de Nangis, John de Meun, and 
William Duranti. The first of these, who was a monk of 
St. Dennis, finished the life of Saint Louis, which had been 
begun by one of his brethren, named Gilion de Rheims. 
He also compiled the life of Philip the Hardy, and continued 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 101 

the history written by Sigebert, the monk of Gemblours, 
from the year 1114, to 1300. — John de Meun is famous for 
his continuation of the celebrated poem, entitled, "the Ro- 
mance of the Rose;" which had been commenced, forty years 
before, by William de Lorris: he was likewise author of a 
French translation of the Epistles of Abelard, and some other 
works of inferior note. 

LOUIS X., 

SURNAMED HUTIN. 

1314—1316. 

The short reign of Louis X., eldest son of the late king, 
(surnamed Hutin) which continued only a year and a half, 
presents nothing worthy of remembrance. 

Why the appellation of Hutin was given to this monarch, 
has not been determined. The literal signification of this 
obsolete term, is "imperious," " peevish," or "quarrel- 
some:" but there was nothing in the disposition of Louis, 
that could justify the annexation of such epithets to his name. 
Mezeray is of opinion, that, he was called Hutin, either from 
the circumstance of his having been sent, by his father, to 
quell the Hutins, or insurgents of Navarre and Lyons; or 
because, in his infancy, he had given symptoms of a martial 
disposition, by assembling the young noblemen of the court, 
whom he drew up in order of battle, and made go through 
their exercise. 

PHILIP V. 

1316—1322. 

Three-hundred-and-twenty-nine years had now elapsed, 
since the accession of Hugh Capet; during which period, the 
crown of France had descended, regularly, from father to 
son, through eleven generations; a series of lineal inheri- 
tance, of very uncommon continuation. But the death of 
the last prince, without male issue, caused a dispute con- 
cerning the succession. During the space of nine-hundred 
years, the French monarchy had always been governed by 
males; and no female, nor any male claiming his descent 
through females, had ever been suffered to mount the throne* 
i 2 



102 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

Philip the Long, and Jane, queen of Navarre, preferred 
their claims; the former, as the brother, the latter, as the 
daughter of Louis Rutin. 

The states general being convened, the matter was de- 
bated; and it was finally declared, that, in conformity with 
the Salique Law, (said to be found in the code of an ancient 
tribe amongst the Franks,) females could not inherit the 
crown of France. In consequence of this, the brother of 
the late king, who had just entered tiis twenty-fourth year, 
ascended the throne, under the title of Philip V. But his 
1*22 re ig n ? like that of his immediate predecessor, was 
short, and devoid of interest. He died, without male 
issue, in the thirty-fourth year of his age, and the sixth of 
his reign. His body was conveyed to St. Dennis; his heart, 
to the convent of the Cordeliers, at Paris; and his entrails, 
to the Jacobins. " Those good fathers," says Mezeray, " had, 
from the time of St. Louis, claimed a right of having a part 
of the entrails of their sovereigns — less for the honour of the 
circumstance, than for the emoluments with which it was 
generally accompanied." 

Philip was a just and virtuous prince, whose only fault 
appears to have been an exorbitant love of money, which 
sometimes led him to the adoption of measures inconsistent 
with the general tenor of his conduct. 

CHARLES IV. 

1322—1328. 

The reign of Charles IV., brother of the last monarch, 
and the only surviving son of Philip the Fair, was, like that 
of his two immediate predecessors, short and unimportant; 
presenting nothing worthy of the historic page; nothing 
worthy ot reflection. He died in the thirty -fourth year of 
his age, and the sixth of his reign, leaving only a daughter, 
and consequently no heir to the crown. 

He was a prince distinguished neither for any great virtues, 
nor remarkable vices : avarice was his chief defect; but, when 
that did not lead him to acts of oppression, he enforced a 
due observance of order, and an impartial administration of 
justice. 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 10S 

PHILIP VI. 

Battle of Crecy. 
1328—1350. 

The three sons of Philip the Fair, had now sat on the 
throne of France, and died without leaving male issue 5 a 
circumstance which caused another dispute as to the succes- 
sion. The claimants were Edward III., king of England, 
and Philip, count of Valois. Edward, being the son of Isa- 
bella, daughter of Philip the Fair, was, consequently, the 
maternal grandson of that monarch, and nephew of the three 
last kings of France. Philip of Valois was only their cou- 
sin-german; being a nephew of Philip the Fair. Edward 
was, therefore, the nearest relation, in degree; but descend- 
ed from a female. Philip, though more distant in consan- 
guinity, was descended from a male. The king of England 
alleged, that the exclusion of females, by the Salique law, 
did not affect their male descendants. The count of Valois 
insisted, that not only the females themselves, but also their 
posterity, were excluded; and, that, were the sons of exclu- 
ded females, deemed competent to succeed, Charles, king of 
Navarre, descended from a daughter of Louis Hutin, had a 
superior claim to Edward. This is a brief statement of the 
case. The peers of France decided in favour of Philip; 
who, in consequence, ascended the throne, in the thirty -sixth 
year of his age. 

Although the youthful and ambitious Edward, then only 
in his fifteenth year, had entertained the notion, that he had 
a just right to the crown of France, he was deterred, by the 
experience and reputation of the French king, from persist- 
ing in his claim; and afterwards did homage to his rival, 
for the dutchy of Guienne. It is probable, therefore, that 
he would not have thought of it further, had it not been for 
some incidents, which excited an animosity between them. 

Robert d' Artois, descended from the royal blood of France, 
having lost his domains, by an unjust decree of Philip the 
Fair, had endeavoured to recover them, by a measure as in- 
quitous, as that by which he had been divested. This led 
to his disgrace and banishment by the present king. He 
took refuge at the court of Edward; and endeavoured to 
rekindle his latent ambition, with regard to the crown of 
France. The English monarch was not averse to the sug- 



104 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

gestion. He was displeased with Philip's conduct towards 
himself, in extorting homage for Guienne; and his having 
encouraged the people of Scotland, in their struggle for in- 
dependence. 

Anxious to secure the Flemings in his interest, Philip 
offered to procure the restoration of some of their ancient pri- 
vileges; but, mindful of the injuries which they had received, 
they were to be conciliated neither by promises nor threats. 
Failing in this, he tried another mode. He complained to 
the pope; who attacked them with all the thunders of the 
church; and pronounced against them an excommunication, 
so positive and terrible, that no one dared to celebrate divine 
service. Alarmed at their situation, the Flemings had re- 
course to the king of England; who told them, not to be 
frightened; for, that the first time he crossed the sea, he 
would carry over with him plenty of English priests, who 
would say mass for them, in spite of the pope. 
100 q Edward's first invasion of France, accompanied 
chiefly by Flemish and German allies, was abortive. 
When Philip appeared against him, with an army of nearly 
double the force, he retired into Flanders, and dispersed 
his troops. 

-icAft But the English monarch was not of a disposition, 
to be disheartened, by the failure of a first attempt. 
He seemed still resolved to be king of France. In the fol- 
lowing year, he put to sea, with a fleet of two-hundred-and- 
forty ships; and, when off Sluise, having encountered the 
fleet of Philip, consisting of four-hundred, he defeated it, 
with the loss of two-hundred-and-thirty ships, and thirty- 
thousand men. This was a severe stroke, to the power of 
France. It was the first naval conflict, between the English 
and the French. None of Philip's courtiers dared inform 
him of the event, until his fool, or jester, had given him a 
hint, by which he perceived the greatness of his loss. 

Edward marched towards the frontiers of France, with 
an army of one-hundred-thousand men, and laid siege to 
Tournay. But, every assault, made by him, against this 
place, was repulsed. The valour, on the one side, was 
encountered, with equal valour, on the other. Irritated, at 
length, by the disagreeable prospect of the campaign, he 
sent Philip a defiance; and challenged him to decide their 
claims for the crown of France, either by single combat, or 
by an action of a hundred against a hundred. But Philip 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 105 

could not be diverted from the line of prudence. He re- 
minded Edward of his having done homage for Guienne; 
that it ill became a vassal to challenge his liege lord and 
sovereign; and that he proposed a duel upon very unequal 
terms, by offering to hazard only his own person, against 
the kingdom of France, and the person of the king; but 
proposed, that if Edward would increase his stake, and put 
also the kingdom of England upon the issue of the duel, he 
would willingly accept the challenge. No duel, however, 
w T as fought; no battle of a hundred against a hundred. Nei- 
ther of the kings was serious. These mutual bravados were 
intended only to dazzle the populace: they had more wisdom, 
than to think of executing their pretended purpose; and the 
campaign ended with a truce. 

The truce was, however, only of short duration. The 
sword was soon again unsheathed, and the bowstring tight- 
ened for destruction. 

An unexpected occurrence intervened, which furnished 
the king of England with an opportunity of attacking Phi- 
lip, in the centre of his dominions. A dispute having arisen, 
between the count of Montfort and Charles of Blois, in re- 
gard to the succession to the dutchy of Brittany, the court 
of peers gave a verdict in favour of Charles; and the count, 
having resisted this decree, was carried a prisoner to Paris. 
But his affairs were unexpectedly retrieved, by the magna- 
nimity of his consort. Assembling the inhabitants of Rennes, 
where she then resided, and taking her infant son in her 
arms, she conjured them to extend their protection to the 
last male heir of their ancient sovereigns; and expatiated on 
the resources that were still to be derived from the power- 
ful assistance of England. She visited all the garrisons, 
and concerted the proper plans of defence. At Henne- 
bonne, the brave countess commanded in person. This 
was the strongest fortress in Brittany; and the garrison, ac- 
tuated by the presence and example of this incomparable 
heroine, prepared for a vigorous defence. The countess 
herself performed prodigies of valour. Assaults, the most 
violent and incessant, she sustained, without shrinking. 
Clad in complete armour, she stood foremost in the breach, 
and repelled, with irresistible courage, all the attacks of 
Charles; and, in the encouragement and support of her troops, 
displayed a degree of skill, that would have done honour to 
the most experienced general. 



106 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

Perceiving, one day, that the besiegers, occupied in a gen- 
eral attack, had left their camp unguarded, she immediately 
sallied forth, by a postern, with a body of five-hundred 
horse ; set fire to their tents, baggage, and magazines; and 
created so universal an alarm, that the enemy desisted from 
the assault, in order to cut off her communication with the 
town. Finding herself intercepted, she galloped off to 
Auray; which place she reached in safety; and, five days 
afterwards, she returned, with her little army, cut her way 
through a part of the camp, and entered the town, in triumph. 

At length, however, so many breaches were made in the 
walls, that the bishop of Leon, in opposition to her prayers 
and remonstrances, had determined to capitulate. He was 
accordingly engaged in a conference with Charles of Blois, 
when the countess, who had ascended the summit of a lofty 
tower, and was casting an eager look towards the sea, des- 
cried a fleet, at a distance. She instantly descended, ran 
into the street, and exclaimed, in a transport of joy — "suc- 
cours — succours !— the English succours ! — no capitulation !" 
—Nor was she mistaken: the English fleet soon afterwards 
entered the harbour; and the troops, under the command of 
Sir Walter Mawny, being landed, immediately sallied from 
the city, and attacked the camp of the besiegers, which 
was once more reduced to ashes, after a great many of its 
defenders had been slain. 
- n ,~ The army of Edward, which, during the ensuing 
campaign, was favoured with almost unparalleled suc- 
cess, consisted of about thirty -thou sand men — English, Irish, 
and Welsh. After destroying all the ships, at La Hogue, 
where he landed, and also at Barfleur and Cherbourg, he 
spread his army over the whole country; took Caen, by 
storm, and carried his ravages to the very gates of Paris. 
But, being closely pressed, by the French monarch, at the 
head of a hundred-thousand men, he was at length obliged 
to act on the defensive, and retreat. His situation was 
alarming. As a last resource, he made a stand, at the vil- 
lage of Crecy ; and here, was fought, the memorable battle, 
which has immortalized his name. 

He drew up his army upon a gentle ascent, and divided 
it into three lines. The first was commanded by his eldest 
son, the prince of Wales; called, after the colour of his 
armour, the Black Prince, then only in his sixteenth year: 
the earl of Arundel was at the head of the second; and the 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 107 

third, intended as a reserve, was under the direction of the 
king himself* 

Philip was advised to defer engaging, until his troops had 
recovered from their fatigue: but one division of his army 
pressed upon another; orders to halt were not seasonably 
conveyed, to all; and they arrived in presence of the enemy, 
perplexed by confusion, and weakened by fatigue. The 
first line, consisting of fifteen-thousand cross-bow-men, was 
commanded by Anthony Doria, and Charles Grimaldi; the 
second, by the count d'Alenc^n:; the third, by the king of 
France. 

Besides the French monarch, there were in this engage- 
ment, no less than three crowned heads,-— the king of Bo- 
hemia, the king of the Romans, his son, and the king of 
Majorca; with all the nobility and great vassals of the crown 
of France. The French army now consisted of one-hundred- 
and -twenty-thousand men, nearly four times the number of 
the English; and never had European soldiers faced each 
other on a more interesting occasion. 

Incidents, seemingly unimportant, decide the chances of 
success. There had happened, a little before the engagement, 
a thunder-shower, which had moistened and relaxed the 
strings of the Genoese cross-bows; and their arrows, for this 
reason, could not reach the opposing ranks. The English, 
however, were not inconvenienced, from that cause. Taking 
their bows out of their cases, which had preserved them 
from the rain, their arrows are directed with their wonted 
force, and soon throw the Genoese into confusion. The 
artillery fire amongst the crowd, and the Black Prince leads 
on his division to the charge. The French cavalry, however, 
make a stout resistance, the battle becomes, for some time, 
full of danger, and the earl of Warwick, apprehensive of the 
event, from the superior numbers of the French, despatches 
a messenger to the English king, and entreats him to send 
assistance to the prince. But Edward, who surveyed the 
field of battle from a windmill, on the summit of a hill, was 
not in the least alarmed. — " Return," said he, "to my son: 
tell him, that I reserve the honour of this day, for him; and 
that I feel confident he will be able, without my assistance, 
to repel the enemy." This speech was a reviving cordial 
to the prince. He makes an attack upon the French, with 
redoubled vigour: the count d'Alenc^n is slain, his whole 
line of cavalry is thrown into disorder; the Welsh infantry 



108 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

rush amongst the throng, and, with their long knives, cut 
the throats of all who had fallen ; nor was any quarter given, 
on that day, by the victor. 

Philip advanced, with the reserve, to support Ms brother. 
But he found the duke weltering in his blood, his line 
already broken, and the confusion prevalent in his own 
body, was increased by the example of their rout. He had 
himself a horse killed under him, was remounted, and, 
though left almost alone, seemed still determined to main- 
tain the combat ; when one of his attendants turned about his 
horse, and hurried him from the field of battle, slippery 
with streams of blood. The whole French army now took 
to flight, and were followed and put to the sword, without 
mercy, until the pursuit was ended by the darkness of the 
night. 

On the day of battle, and on the ensuing, there fell, of the 
French army, thirty-six-thousand men. Many of the princi- 
pal nobility of France, besides the kings of Bohemia and 
Majorca, breathed their last, on the field of Crecy. The 
fate of the former prince, was most singular. Blind, from 
age, yet resolved to set an example to others, he had ordered 
the reins of his bridle to be tied, on each side, to the horses 
of two gentlemen of his train; and his dead body, and those 
of his attendants, with their horses standing by them, in 
that situation, were afterwards found amongst the slain. 

The trifling loss sustained by the English, is as remark- 
able, as the great slaughter of the French. They lost only 
one esquire, and three knights, and very few of inferior 
rank. 

This was the first remarkable occasion, in which artillery 
had been used. The invention was then known in France, 
as well as in England; but, it is supposed, that Philip, in 
his hurry to overtake the enemy, had left his cannon behind. 

The prudence of the English monarch, was not lessened 
by success. Not elated, by his signal victory, so as to ex- 
pect the total conquest of the disputed kingdom, he pro- 
posed to secure only an easy entrance into France, by which 
he might afterwards seize any advantage that might offer. 
He therefore limited his ambition to the conquest of Calais. 
1347 ^^ s P^ ace was defended, by John de Vienne, with 
remarkable bravery and vigilance, during a siege of 
eleven months; but the king of France, though he appeared 
with an army of two-hundred-thousand men, having failed 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 109 

in driving away the enemy, or in succouring the starving 
garrison, the governor at length saw the necessity of sur- 
rendering the fortress; his soldiers, as well as the inhabitants, 
being reduced to the last extremity, by famine and fatigue. 
Not a horse, dog, cat, or rat, or any species of vermin, that 
was eatable, however unpalatable, remained unconsumed, 
within the town. He proposed a capitulation. Incensed, 
however, at the obstinacy of the besieged, who had now 
detained him nearly a whole year before their walls, Edward 
would not, at first, accept the surrender, on any terms, 
that would confine him in the punishment of its defenders: 
but, reflecting, afterwards, on the danger of retaliation, he 
was induced to soften the rigour of that condition. He 
only insisted, that six of the most considerable citizens, 
should be sent to him, to be disposed of as he thought pro- 
per; that they should come to his camp, carrying the keys 
of the city in their hands, bareheaded, and barefooted, with 
ropes about their necks; with which terms, if the governor 
complied, the lives of the remainder should be spared. 

This communication, designed as an act of lenity, would, 
in this age, be considered as most barbarous rigour. Struck 
with consternation, the inhabitants could form no resolution, 
in so cruel a dilemma. At last, one of the principal inhabit- 
ants, called Eustace de St. Pierre, stepped forth, and de- 
clared that he would sacrifice himself, for the safety of his 
friends: animated by his example, another made a similar 
offer of self-devotion; a third and a fourth were excited by 
the same heroic spirit; and the whole number required, was 
soon completed. Habited as malefactors, they laid the keys 
of the city at Edward's feet; and, notwithstanding the in- 
tercession of his son and the English nobles, were ordered 
for execution. 

But Edward's name was preserved from infamy, by the 
entreaties of his queen. When Sir Walter Manny, the of- 
ficer who had been sent to arrange the conditions of the 
surrender, returned to the camp of the victorious Edward, 
with the gallant patriot, St. Pierre, and his fellow hostages, 
the monarch inquired, " Are these the principal inhabitants 
of Calais ?" — " They are," replied Manny, « not only the 
principal men of Calais, but the principal men of France, 
if virtue has any share in nobility." — " Were they delivered 
peaceably ?" inquired Edward. " Was there no resistance, 
no commotion amongst the people? — "Not the least, sire. 
K 



110 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

The people would all have perished rather than have de- 
livered trie least of these to your majesty; but they are self- 
delivered, self -devoted, and come to offer their inestimable 
heads, as an ample equivalent for the ransom of thousands." 
— Edward was secretly piqued at this reply; but he knew 
the privilege of a British subject, and suppressed his re- 
sentment.— " Experience," said he, "has ever shown, that 
lenity serves only to incite people to more crimes. Severity, 
at times, is indispensably necessary, to compel subjects to 
submission. Go," he cried, to an officer, " lead these men 
to execution. " — At this instant, the sound of a trumpet was 
heard throughout the camp. The queen had just arrived, 
with a reinforcement of gallant troops, from England. Sir 
Walter Manny flew to her majesty, and briefly informed 
her of the particulars respecting the six victims. As soon 
as Philippa had been welcomed by Edward and his court, 
her majesty desired a private audience. — " My lord," said 
she, " the question that I am to enter upon, is not touching 
the lives of a few mechanics: it respects the honour of the 
English nation; it respects the glory of my Edward, my 
husband, my king! you think that you have sentenced six 
of your enemies to death. No, my lord, they have sentenced 
themselves. The stage on which they would suffer, would 
be to them a stage of honour; but to Edward, a stage of 
shame, a reproach to his conquests; an indelible stain on his 
name." — These words flashed conviction upon the soul of 
Edward. — " I have done wrong, very wrong!" he exclaimed; 
"let the execution be instantly stayed, and the captives be 
brought before us." — St. Pierre and his friends soon made 
their appearance; when the queen thus addressed them: — 
"Natives of France, and inhabitants of Calais, you have 
put us to a vast expense of blood and treasure, in the re- 
covery of our just and natural inheritance: but you have 
acted up to the best of an erroneous judgment, and we 
admire and honour in you that valour and virtue, by which 
we are so long kept out of our rightful possessions. Noble 
burghers ! excellent citizens ! though you were tenfold the 
enemies of our person and our throne, we can feel nothing 
on our part towards you, save respect and affection. You 
have been sufficiently tried. We loose your chains; we 
snatch you from the scaffold; and we thank you for that 
lesson of humiliation which you teach us, when you show us 
that excellence is not of blood, of title, or of station; that vir- 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. Ill 

tue gives a dignity superior to that of kings, and that those 
whom the Almighty informs with sentiments like yours, are 
justly and universally raised above all human distinctions." 

" Ah my country!" exclaimed St. Pierre; * it is now that 
I tremble for you. Edward gains only our cities; but 
Philippa conquers hearts." 

Having saved these gallant citizens from an unmerited 
death, she conducted them into her tent, ordered a repast to 
be set before them, and dismissed them, with presents, 
suitable to their immediate wants. 

Edward took possession of Calais, and peopled it anew, 
with English; a policy which, it is likely, preserved, so long, 
to his successors, the dominion of that important fortress. 
He made it the staple of wool, leather, tin, and lead; the 
four chief, if not the sole commodities of England, for which 
there was then any demand, in a foreign market. 

After the surrender of Calais, the blood-stained instru- 
ments of war, were allowed, for a while, to rest. Through 
the mediation of the pope's legate, Edward concluded a 
truce with France; but, even during this cessation of arms, 
the treachery of an Italian officer, whom he had appointed 
governor of Calais, had nearly deprived him of this city; the 
only remaining fruit of his victorious campaign. Edward 
hastened over to Calais. A sanguinary conflict ensued, 
before the walls. The king of England, who wore no par- 
ticular badge of distinction, and fought, as a private man, 
under the standard of Sir Walter Manny, remarking a French 
knight, named Eustace de Ribaumont, who was giving most 
signal proofs of extraordinary valour, conceived a desire of 
encountering him, in single combat. As he knew Ribau- 
mont, he challenged him, by name, and a most desperate 
action followed. Edward was twice beaten to the ground, 
and twice recovered: equal courage and skill were displayed, 
for some time, by both; but, at length, the Frenchman was 
compelled to acknowledge that he was beaten, and yielded 
up his sword. — The defeat became general, and all the party 
were either slain or made prisoners. — But the antagonist of 
Edward, was not long detained. The king presented him 
with a chaplet of pearls, saying, " 1 entreat you to wear 
this, for my sake. You are no longer a prisoner: I acquit 
you of your ransom; and to-morrow you will be at liberty to 
dispose of yourself, in whatever way is most pleasing to 
yourself*" 



112 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

]oaq France was, at this time, afflicted with a most 
dreadful calamity. This year stands fatally distin- 
guished, in history, by a general pestilence; which made 
so terrible ravages, not only in France, but in every coun- 
try then known, that it is supposed to have swept away 
nearly one third of the human race. 

■to 5 Q The following year, was the last of Philip's life. 
Worn out with the cares of royalty, and the effects 
of dissipation, he died, prematurely old, at Nogent le Roi, 
in the fifty-eighth year of his age, and twenty -third of his 
reign. 

Few monarchs have been more praised, by historians, 
than Philip of Valois, though few have had more slender 
claims to commendation. Though bold, he was not mag- 
nanimous; not pious, though devout. Stern, cruel, vin- 
dictive, and inflexible, the people of Flanders, and the no- 
bles of Brittany, experienced the fatal effects of his pride 
and revenge. 

On the accession of Philip to the throne of France, he 
found the people possessed, by the emancipation of the 
commons, of a degree of liberty, unknown to their ances- 
tors. But the nation had not yet derived, from their im- 
proved condition, all the advantages that it was calculcated 
to insure. Arts and manufactures were still in their in- 
fancy; and commerce, totally neglected by the natives, was 
abandoned to the avidity of foreigners — Italians, Spaniards, 
"and Flemings. Yet, were luxury and ridiculous fashions, 
introduced. A head loaded with feathers, a long beard, 
chains around the neck, and a dress so tight and short, as 
to be inconsistent with decency, had already become objects 
of attention to the nobility; and of ambition to the common 
people. 

Dauphiny having been annexed to the crown of France, 
in the present reign, the title of dauphin, has, ever since, 
been assumed, by the king's eldest son. The tax upon salt, 
called the gabelle, is also supposed to have been commenced 
by Philip. He established magazines of this article, in dif- 
ferent parts of France; on which occasion, the king of Eng- 
land gave him the appellation of Author of the Salique Law; 
and Philip, in return, called his rival, The Wool Merchant; 
alluding to the supplies of this commodity, so frequently 
granted to him, by the parliament* 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. US 

JOHN. 

Battle of Poictiers. 
1350—1364. 

The incidents in the reign of John, the son and successor 
of the late king, caused the French to regret even the calam- 
itous times of Philip. John was distinguished by many vir- 
tues; particularly a scrupulous fidelity and honour: nor was 
he deficient in personal courage: but, as he wanted that 
masterly prudence and foresight, required in his difficult 
situation, his kingdom was at the same time disturbed by 
intestine commotions, and harassed by foreign wars. 

The principal authors of these calamities, were Charles, 
king of Navarre, surnamed the Bad; Stephen Marcel, pro- 
vost of the merchants of Paris; and the bishop of Laon. 
Charles was descended from males of the royal blood of 
France. His mother was a daughter of Louis X. ; and he 
had himself married a daughter of the reigning king: but 
these ties, which ought to have caused a friendly attach- 
ment to the throne, gave him only greater power to shake 
and overthrow it. 

Marcel, having contrived to make himself governor of 
Paris, agreed to surrender the capital, to the king of Na- 
varre. His troops, in conjunction with the rebels, after se- 
curing the Bastile, and the principal gates of the city, were 
to massacre all the friends of the regent, whose houses were 
already marked; and Charles was to be crowned king of 
France. Marcel accordingly repaired to the gate of St. 
Anthony, in the night of the last of July; and, naving dis- 
missed a part of the guard, and replaced them with such as 
were devoted to his service, he took the keys of the gate 
from the officer to whose care they had been intrusted. 
Hitherto, he had met with no obstacle; and the town was 
on the point of being surrendered to Charles the Bad, when 
John Maillard, a loyal citizen, whose name merits a dis- 
tinguished place in the annals of France, arrived, with a 
party of his friends, and, seizing Marcel, saved his country. 
— When he came up to the traitor, he exclaimed, " Stephen, 
what are you doing here, at this hour?"— "John," said 
Marcel, " what is that to you ? I am here, to take care of 
the town, of which I am governor. "— •« That is not the case," 
k 2 



114 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

replied Maillard; " you are not here, at this hour, for any 
good; and I will show you," addressing himself to his com- 
panions, *« that he has got the keys of the gate in his hand, 
for the purpose of betraying the city. "— ." John, you lie!" 
said the provost. — « You are the liar," returned Maillard, in 
a transport of rage; then, grasping his battle-axe, with one 
blow, he laid him dead at his feet 

But John, at length, found an opportunity of seizing the 
person of that atrocious monarch. Having been invited, 
by the dauphin, to a grand repast, at Rouen, the invitation 
was accepted; and Charles came, attended by a number of 
his most faithful adherents. During the preceding night, 
the king left Manneville, attended by a hundred men at 
arms. • He arrived at the gate of Rouen, at the very hour 
of dinner; and, passing round the outside of the walls, en- 
tered the castle, by a private door, and presented himself in 
the room, where the guests were assembled. The moment he 
appeared, every one arose from his seat; a goblet of wine 
was offered to him, but he refused to take it, and exclaimed, 
with a countenance inflamed with rage, " Let no one stir, 
under pain of death!" He immediately went up to the king 
of Navarre, and secured him. The count of Harcourt at- 
tempted to escape, but was instantly stopped. All the no- 
bles and knights, in the retinue of Charles, endeavoured to 
force a passage; a few of them escaped, but the greater part 
were seized, and confined in different parts of the castle: 
the count of Harcourt and four others, were put into carts, 
when the king mounted his horse, and, attended by the dau- 
phin, and his men at arms, conducted them to a field, near 
the town, where he caused them to be beheaded. The king 
of Navarre was carried to the Louvre, at Paris; whence, he, 
in the following year, effected his escape; an event which 
caused all virtuous men to shudder, and produced unparal- 
leled calamity to France. 

Charles and the dauphin frequently dined together, at 
Paris. It is supposed to have been at one of these repasts, 
that he found means of administering poison to the latter; 
which was so violent in its operation, that, notwithstand- 
ing he had immediate assistance, his nails and his hair fell 
off, and he felt the effects of it during the remainder of his 
life. 

Meanwhile, the kingdom was again afflicted, by a general 
famine, attended with the most dreadful effects.. The scar- 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 115 

city of corn* produced so great an augmentation of its price, 
that none but the most opulent could afford to purchase it; 
and the necessity of the people was so great, that the wretch- 
ed peasantry were constrained to feed upon the roots of the 
earth, and even upon the bark of trees. 
%o 5 c The truce between England and France, which 
had been ill observed, on both sides, had now ex- 
pired; so that Edward was at liberty to support the French 
malcontents. The war was renewed. With an army of 
only twelve-thousand men, the prince of Wales ventured to 
penetrate into the heart of France. But the appearance of 
the French king, with a force of sixty-thousand, obliged him 
to retreat, towards Bourdeaux. The pursuers came within 
sight of the English, near Poictiers; and young Edward, 
sensible that a further retreat had become impracticable, 
prepared for battle. While Eustace de Ribaumont, and two 
other officers of the French army, were reconnoitering the 
enemy, the king, mounted on a white courser, rode along 
the ranks, and thus addressed his men: — "Soldiers, when 
you are at Paris, Chartres, Rouen, or Orleans, you threaten 
the English, and wish to be in their presence, with your hel- 
mets on: — now, you are in their presence; yonder, they are. 
If you wish to take vengeance, for the injuries you have 
sustained, and to punish your enemies, for what they have 
made you suffer, now is your time; for we shall certainly 
fight them." The French immediately took measures for an 
assault; fully confident of an easy victory. But they were 
miserably deceived. The battle of Poictiers, fought on the 
nineteenth of September, little more than ten years after 
that of Crecy, was still more disastrous to France, p Six- 
thousand of the French army who were slain, and fifteen - 
thousand made prisoners, were not their only loss. The 
king, himself, and his son Philip, were amongst the captives; 
also, the duke of Bourbon, and the constable of France; 
with fifty of the principal nobles, and eight-hundred barons 
and gentlemen of distinction. 

A worthy band of valorous knights, crowding around then- 
king, long enabled him to resist the impetuous attacks of 
the enemy. A body of German cavalry being placed in the 
front, the prince of Wales rushed upon them, with great 
fury, killed two of their leaders, and made a prisoner of the 

* The word corn, in Europe, is a generic term, including every spe- 
cies of grain used in making bread* 



116 HISTORY OF FRANCE*. 

third. Still, however, the French, animated by the presence 
and example of their sovereign, made a desperate resistance. 
But the king was, at length, left to sustain the whole fury 
of the English. His son Philip, fighting by his side, dis- 
played an intrepidity superior to his age: whenever a blow 
was aimed at his father, he rushed forward, to intercept it; 
and, in thus discharging the duties of a child and a hero, he 
received a most glorious wound. The standard of France 
by this time lay prostrate on the ground, clasped in the life- 
less arms of the valiant Charny; who had refused to quit 
the precious charge. The ranks were thinned; the carnage 
was dreadful. Still, the king seemed to rise superior to 
misfortune: wielding his battle-axe, with amazing dexterity 
and strength, he dealt destruction to all who ventured to 
approach him. He seemed intent on victory or death. But, 
exhausted, at length, by such violent exertion, and having 
received two wounds in the face, from the loss of his helmet, 
which had fallen off, in the heat of action, he was constrained 
to surrender, to an outlawed knight of Artois, named Den- 
nis de Morbec. 

The prince conducted his royal prisoner to Bourdeaux; 
and, after concluding a truce for two years, carried him to 
England. 

The mayor of London met the prince in Southwark, fol- 
lowed by the aldermen, adorned with the insignia of their 
office, and one-thousand of the principal citizens. The cap- 
tive monarch was arrayed in royal robes, and mounted on a 
superb white charger, gorgeously caparisoned; while his 
princely victor, simply habited, rode by his side, on a black 
palfrey, the figure and trappings of which bespoke that hu- 
mility which dignified and adorned the mind of its master; 
his whole deportment displaying the modesty and self-abase- 
ment of true chivalry, and that kind consideration, which 
one knight always showed to his brother in arms. 

The captivity of the French monarch and nobility, joined 
to the preceding disorders of the kingdom, produced an al- 
most total dissolution of sovereign authority, and the most 
horrible and destructive acts of violence, experienced by 
any nation. A body of nine-thousand savage peasantry, 
broke into Meaux; where the wife of the dauphin, the dutch- 
ess of Orleans, and above three -hundred other ladies, had 
taken shelter. Their situation was most dreadfuL Hope 
itself had fled from their timid breasts. The most brutal 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 117 

treatment was apprehended, by this fair and helpless com- 
pany; when the count de Foix, and the captal de Buche, 
with the aid of only sixty knights, animated with the gal- 
lant spirit of chivalry, flew to their rescue, and beat off the 
rapacious assailants, with great slaughter, 
-ocq The truce had no sooner expired, than Edward 
again invaded France. On the twenty-seventh of 
October, he sailed for Calais, with a fleet of eleven-hundred 
ships; on board of which, were his four eldest sons, all the 
principal nobility of England, and an army of one-hundred- 
thousand men. He ravaged the country, without opposition; 
pillaged many towns; levied contributions upon others; and 
burned several villages, within sight of the walls of Paris: 
but, finding that his army could not subsist in a kingdom, 
wasted by foreign and domestic enemies, he concluded, at 
Bretigni, an advantageous peace. 

loan It was stipulated, that John should pay three-mil- 
lions of gold crowns, for his ransom: that Edward 
should for ever renounce all claim to the crown of France, 
and to the provinces of Normandy, Maine, Touraine, and 
Anjou, possessed by his ancestors; in exchange for which, 
he should receive the provinces of Poictou, Saintonge, l'Age- 
nois, Perigord, Limosin, Quercy, and other districts, in that 
quarter; together with Calais, Guisnes, Montreuil, and the 
county of Ponthieu, on the other side of France; and that 
the sovereignty of these provinces, as well as of Guienne, 
should be vested in the crown of England, without homage 
to France. 

By this treaty, John was restored to liberty, after a cap- 
tivity of four years: but, some difficulties having arisen, 
ice a in its execution, he formed the honourable resolution 
of returning to England, in order to remove them; 
where he soon afterwards died, in the forty-fifth year of his 
age, and fourteenth of his reign. 

John was heroically brave, faithful to his word, the friend 
of honour, truth, and justice. He was fond of literature, 
and extended his protection and bounty to its professors. 
He caused a great part of the Bible, and several other re- 
ligious works, to be translated into French. The first 
translation of the decades of Livy, into the French language, 
was undertaken at his command. Sallust, Lucan, and tlie 
Commentaries of Csesar, were also translated, during this 
reign. 



118 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

CHARLES V. 

1364—1380. 

John was succeeded by his eldest son, Charles V., now 
in his twenty-seventh year; a prince distinguished for his 
prudence; the first European monarch that discontinued the 
practice of appearing at the head of his armies, in the field 
of battle. 

The defeat and entire discomfiture of the king of Navarre, 
the great disturber of the nation, during this age, was not 
sufficient to restore order to the kingdom. Much was yet 
to be accomplished. On the conclusion of the peace of 
Bretigni, a multitude of adventurers, who had served in the 
preceding war, refused to lay down their arms. They even 
associated themselves with the banditti, already inured to the 
habits of violence and rapine; and, under the name of Com- 
panies, and Companions, became a terror to the peaceable 
inhabitants. Some English and Gascon gentlemen of cha- 
racter, were not ashamed to be at the head of these ruffians; 
whose number, increasing with their audacity, amounted to 
nearly forty -thousand. The grievance was enormous. The 
whole fabric of society was shaken. But, an occasion at 
length offering, of employing them in foreign service, 
Charles freed his country from their presence. They were 
invited to Castile, by Henry, count of Transtamara, to 
oppose the tyranny of Pedro, the natural brother of that 
prince. 

Under the command of the celebrated French general, 
Bertrand du Guesclin, they directed their march towards 
Avignon, then the residence of the pope. His holiness had 
no reason to expect this visit; and, when the army was ap- 
proaching, he sent a cardinal, to menace them with excom- 
munication, unless they immediately left the territories of 
the church. The cardinal was told, by du Guesclin, that 
his soldiers must first have absolution, and two-hundred- 
thousand livres: the prelate answered, that they might have 
as many pardons as they chose, but, as for money, that was 
a different affair. Bertrand replied, that his men preferred 
gold to absolution; and that he would do well to bring the 
sum required, without delay. The pope then extorted the 
money from the inhabitants of the city and neighbourhood, 
and offered it to du Guesclin; but, being informed in what 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 119 

manner it was raised, "It is not my purpose," he ex- 
claimed, "to oppress innocent people. The pope and the 
cardinals can well spare me that sum, out of their own cof- 
fers. This money, I insist, must be restored to the owners; 
and, should they be defrauded of it, I shall myself return, 
from the other side of the Pyrennees, and oblige you to 
make them restitution. "—This appeal was not without 
effect. The pope paid the amount, from his treasury; after 
which, the army proceeded on its expedition. 

Du Guesclin easily prevailed over Pedro, until the Black 
iac 7 Prince was induced to join the standard of the Span- 
ish king. With a much inferior force, that heroic 
soldier encountered Transtamara, near Najara; and defeated 
him, with the loss of ten-thousand men killed, and as many- 
taken prisoners; amongst whom, was du Guesclin himself. 
Bertrand was detained a prisoner at Bourdeaux; and, as 
the prince of Wales had refused to release him, it was in- 
sinuated, to his captor, that this refusal was suspected to 
proceed from his fear of a man rendered formidable by his 
great abilities and courage. Piqued at this reproach, Ed- 
ward ordered the warrior to be brought into his presence. 
-" Mr. Bertrand," said he, "it is pretended that I dare 
not release you, because I am afraid of you." — " There are 
people who say as much," replied du Guesclin; "and I 
think myself highly honoured, by their opinion." — The 
prince immediately told him to fix his own ransom, when 
he named the sum of one-hundred-thousand florins; which 
he said he could easily obtain, from the kings of France 
and Castile, the duke of Anjou and the pope. The prin- 
cess of Wales, who was then at Bourdeaux, anxious to see 
du Guesclin, invited him to dinner; and, as a proof of the 
esteem she entertained for him, on account of his valour, 
she offered to pay for him twenty -thousand livres, towards 
his ransom. Du Guesclin, bending his knee before her, 
said, — " Madame, I have always thought myself the ugliest 
knight that the world could produce; but I now find, that 
I no longer ought to hold myself in so low estimation. " 

Hitherto, the Black Prince had been successful, in every 
enterprise. To oppose him, was only to be defeated. But 
fortune seemed at length weary of granting him her favours. 
He had involved himself so much in debt, by his Spanish, 
expedition, that he found it necessary, on his return to 
Guienne, to impose upon this dutchy a new tax; to which, 



120 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

many of the nobles refused to submit They carded their 
complaints to the king of France, as their superior lord; 
and, as the renunciation, stipulated in the treaty of Bretig- 
ni, had never been made, Charles seized this opportunity, 
to renew his sovereignty over the English provinces. In 
this resolution, he was encouraged, by the declining years 
of king Edward, and the languid condition of his son's 
health : he therefore cited the prince to appear, in his court, 
at Paris, and justify his conduct. Young Edward felt in- 
dignant at the summons. His military ardour was re- 
kindled. He replied, that he would come to Paris, but, it 
would be at the head of an army. War was renewed, be- 
tween France and England; but, with a singular reverse of 
fortune. On account of the feeble state of the prince's 
health, he being unable to head his troops, the French, aided 
by a large body of Scottish auxiliaries, were victorious, in 
almost every action: by the valour and able conduct of du 
Guesclin, the affairs of the English, on the continent, were 
almost entirely ruined; and they were deprived, in a few 
years, of all their ancient possessions in France, except 
Bourdeaux and Bayonne; and of all their conquests, except 
Calais; while a French fleet, under the conduct of John de 
Vienne, ravaged the English coasts, and burned the towns 
of Rye and Hastings, Portsmouth, Dartmouth, and Ply- 
mouth. 

The French had hitherto made little progress in naval 
affairs. The navy had flourished during the reign of Char- 
lemagne, but was neglected by his successors. The French 
and the English courted the alliance of the Castilians and 
Genoese, then deemed the most skilful mariners in Europe; 
and the squadrons of Genoa fought alternately for both na- 
tions. Charles was the first French monarch, of the third 
race, who formed a plan for a fleet of his own. His vessels 
were larger than those generally used; though not to be 
compared, either for size or convenience, with the ships of 
the present times: indeed, a modern vessel, even of a mid- 
dle size, could not have entered the best harbour then pos- 
sessed by the French. The largest vessels were called 
galleys. They were worked with oars and sails, and sup- 
plied with low towers; whence, stones, and other missile 
weapons, were thrown; and to the prow was fixed a long, 
thick beam, cased with iron, for the purpose of crushing the 
sides of the enemy's ships. 






HISTORY OF FRANCE. 121 

- 376 Six years after those misfortunes, the prince of 
Wales died; and his father survived him only about 
twelve months; being succeeded by the prince's son, Rich- 
ard II. 

j « 80 The French monarch lived only a few years after 
the king of England. Having, by the great pru- 
dence of his administration, acquired the surname of "W ise, 
he died, in the forty-fourth year of his age, and the seven- 
teenth of his reign ; leaving his kingdom to a minor son, of 
the same name. 

Charles was a patron of letters, and may be considered 
as the founder of the Royal Library at Paris. He placed 
in the Louvre about nine-hundred volumes; a very great 
number, in that age, when the art of printing was not in- 
vented; twenty volumes having composed the whole litera- 
ry stock, left him by his father. A manuscript was a pre- 
cious thing; and often bequeathed, as a considerable part 
of the succession. It was common to see a breviary care- 
fully preserved, in the churches, in an iron cage, for the 
convenience of priests who had no books of their own: it 
was placed in a part of the church where there was most 
light, that several priests might recite their office, at the 
same time. 

Following the example of his father, Charles caused 
several of the ancient classics to be translated into French. 
The chief of these were, Suetonius, Valerius Maximus, - 
and Josephus, with a new and more correct translation of 
Livy. The ethics and politics of Aristotle, were trans- 
lated by Nicholas Oresmus, and his problems by Evrard de 
Contis, physician to the king. John of Antioch translated 
Cicero's Rhetoric, and the bishop of Meaux undertook the 
Metamorphoses of Ovid. The Bible was also rendered 
into the vernacular tongue, during this reign; as were also 
the institutes of Justinian, and the decretals of the popes. 

But, most of these translations were faithless and incor- 
rect. A cotemporary writer represents the original authors, 
as complaining of the ignorance of their translators; who 
made them say things of which they never thought. He 
then adds, " O, how happy would have been the fate of 
books, had there been no tower of Babel; for then there 
would have been only one language on the earth, and no 
word would have stood in need of a translation. " 

Froissard, who was a poet, as well as an historian, was 
L 



122 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

the only French writer, of this age, whose works are at once 
pleasing and instructive: notwithstanding their barbarous 
style, they are still interesting. 

Nor were the painters more skilful than the poets. Their 
chief merit consisted in representing birds, insects, trees, 
and flowers, in so brilliant colours, that they still retain 
their original lustre. When they painted human figures, 
they exerted all their skill in preserving, with the utmost 
precision, the dress, and the form of the nair; but they had 
no idea of expressing the passions, or of giving the smallest 
degree of animation to the countenance or person. That 
their meaning, however, might not be mistaken, they had 
recourse to written descriptions, explanatory of the subject. 
This curious expedient, long practised in France, originated 
in the following circumstance:— A friend of Bufamaleo, a 
painter of Florence, consulting him on the best mode of 
giving expression to his pictures, was advised, by him, to 
put words into the mouths of his figures, by means of 
labels ; on which, might be written what he wished them to 
say. The ignorant artist followed his advice: he met with 
admirers, as ignorant as himself; his example was soon fol- 
lowed, and this ridiculous invention was imitated in France. 
Nothing was then seen but pictures by question and answer; 
and, for greater certainty, there was inscribed, upon every 
figure, the name of the person whom it was intended to re- 
present 

It is asserted, by some, that the sculptors of this period, 
were not less ignorant than the painters; but the few statues 
that yet remain, then executed in France, tend to confirm 
the report of others, that the art of sculpture had made a 
rapid progress. 

The Gothic style of architecture, so admirably calculated 
for churches, was still in use, in France. With regard to 
other edifices, in their construction, neither comfort nor 
convenience seems to have been consulted. In most private 
houses, light was admitted through an aperture, defended 
from the weather only by a wooden shutter, a few sheets of 
paper, or by canvas. Glass was an object of luxury, re- 
served for the mansions of the nobility, and the palaces of 
kings. The latter were buildings of great extent, consisting 
of two stories, divided into apartments of immense size, 
with low garrets above. The furniture was in general as 



1 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 123 

plain as the edifice. The king and all the royal family, 
except the queen, sat on wooden benches, or joint stools: 
the queen had chairs made of some pliant wood, embel- 
lished with red leather and silk fringe. The state apart- 
ments were richly decorated: the beds and alcoves were 
adorned with cloth of gold and silver, velvet, damask, ta- 
pestry, and satin. Glass mirrors were, at this period, very 
scarce: those generally used were of polished metal. The 
apartments occupied by the royal family, were covered with 
tiles or slates; all the other parts of the building were 
thatched. Adjoining the palace, was a menagerie; in which, 
were kept wild boars and lions; and aviaries, filled with all 
kinds of birds. The royal garden contained twenty acres; 
in which, were fruit-trees of almost every species. The king 
ordered two-hundred pear and apple-trees, eleven-hundred 
cherry-trees, and one-hundred-and-fifty plum-trees, to be 
planted, at one time. These fruits were destined for the 
tables of the royal family, and the great officers of the crown: 
the inferior officers were allowed only mite. 

In the kitchen, besides the cooks and their assistants, 
wero four pagcsj ^vhuse business it was to blow the fire 
constantly, "that the king's soup might not be suffered to 
cool." A clerk was retained, for buying cloth for the king 
and queen; which the taylor cut out in the presence of 
witnesses. But, amongst the most important personages 
of the household, were the king's fools; of which Charles 
had two. 

Music and dancing have* always formed the character- 
istic amusements of the French nation. At this time, they 
were held in high esteem, and encouragement was given to 
all who taught them. No one in France was more passion- 
ately fond of music, than Charles. In Paris, as in most great 
towns, the musicians formed a company, under the direction 
of a chief, who was called "The king of the fiddlers;" and 
whose business it was to keep the corps in order, and en- 
force the observance of their laws. 

This period is remarkable, for the introduction of paper- 
manufactories, into France. The art of clock-making had 
been greatly neglected, since the famous Gerbert had, about 
the tenth century, invented clocks that moved by wheels. 
During the day, the sun, or else a sand-glass, served for a 
dock; and, in the night* a wax-light, marked, at different 



124 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

distances, to indicate the hours. The first large clock, in- 
troduced into France, was the work of a German, named 
Henry de Vic, who was invited to Paris, by Charles. 

CHARLES VI. 

Battle of Agincourt. 
1380—1422. 

Both England and France were now under the govern- 
ment of minors; and the jealousies between the three uncles 
of Charles VI., the dukes of Anjou, Berri, and Burgundy, 
distracted the affairs of France, even more than the rivalry 
of the three uncles of Richard II., disordered those of 
England. 

The ceremony of coronation was performed, at Rheims, 
in presence of the king's uncles, and most of the principal 
nobility of France. At the feast which succeeded, the 
dishes were placed upon the table, and the guests waited 
upon, by nobles arrayed in cloth of gold, and mounted on 
superb coursers. 

1^86 Though the people were burthened with taxes, the 
king made vast preparations for an invasion of Eng- 
land. Fifteen-hundred vessels were accordingly collected, 
at Sluys, destined for the embarkation of a hundred-thousand 
men, headed by the king, in person. He had aiso caused a 
singular edifice to be constructed, of prodigious magnitude : 
this was a town of wood, three-thousand paces in diameter, 
fortified with towers and intrenchments, and capable of con- 
taining a whole army. It was intended to serve as a secure 
retreat for the troops, after they had landed in England; 
and was so constructed, that the different parts of it might, 
in a very short space of time, be united. This gigantic ap- 
paratus was embarked on board a second fleet. The con- 
quest of England was considered certain. But, being 
encountered, in the channel, by a storm, the ships were dis- 
persed, and many of them wrecked, upon the English coast; 
amongst which, were several that had on board parts of the 
wooden town. A council was then held. It was determined 
to defer the invasion of England, till the following year; and 
the court returned to Paris, to form new plans for the ensu- 
ing campaign. 

As Charles advanced in years,, the factions were gradually 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 125 

composed. His uncle, the duke of Anjou, died; and the 
king, assuming the reins of government, displayed symptoms 
of genius and spirit, which revived the drooping hopes of 
his countrymen. 

But this promising state of affairs, was of short duration. 
The king had lately recovered from a dangerous malady, 
T3Q2 a ^ Amiens; i n which, he had, as in many instances 
before, shown strong symptoms of an alarming de- 
rangement of intellect. The day on which he began a march 
for Brittany, he had been more languid and drowsy, than 
usual. In entering the forest of Mans, at some distance 
from his troops, and attended by a few followers, a figure, 
clothed in white, with bare head, and naked feet, suddenly 
starting from the trees, seized the bridle of his horse, and, 
in a menacing tone, cried out, " King! proceed not — return 
— thou art betrayed 1" — and as suddenly retreated. Charles 
gave no other signs of the impression made by this strange 
circumstance, than by an alteration in his countenance, and 
a start of horror. On quitting the wood, he advanced to a 
sandy plain, where the heat was insupportable. His page, 
who carried his lance, let it fall upon the helmet, borne by 
another. Aroused by the tinkling noise, he grasped his 
sword, and assailed his followers; when, having been, with 
some difficulty, disarmed, and being exhausted, by his ef- 
forts, he sunk into a state of torpid insensibility; and, tied 
down in a cart, was re -conveyed to Amiens. 

Although Charles partly recovered from that derange- 
ment, yet, he was subject to so frequent relapses, that he 
grew incapable of governing the kingdom, upon any set- 
tled plan. 

. «q~ His first relapse is said to have been caused by the 
following accident. The queen having married one 
of her maids of honour to a person of distinction, the nuptials 
were intended to be celebrated, with great pomp. Amongst 
other amusements, there was to be a masquerade; a circum- 
stance which induced five young noblemen, to appear as 
naked savages; and, such was the indelicacy of the times, 
that the king made one of the party. Their dress, contrived 
to sit close to their bodies, was of linen, impregnated with 
resin; which, when hot, had been covered with fur; and the 
secret was so well preserved, that, when they appeared, 
they were not known. The dutchess of Berri took hold of 
the king, and told him she would not let him go, until she 
l2. 



126 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

knew who he was. Some of the party now began to danee T 
when the duke of Orleans, out of levity, making a feint of 
running a lighted torch against one of the savages, set his 
combustible habit on fire. The flame was quickly com- 
municated to the rest; and this scene of wanton mirth, was 
soon changed into sorrow and distress. But, in the midst 
of their torments, the masks continually cried out, " Save 
the king! Save the king!" — and the dutchess of Berri, sud- 
denly recollecting that he must be the mask that stood next 
to her, threw her robes over him, and, wrapping them closely 
about him, extinguished the flame. One of the masks, by 
leaping into a cistern of water, saved his life; four were so 
terribly burned, that they died in two days; and the king 
was so much affected by the fright, that it occasioned a 
return of his disorder, which attacked him generally four or 
five times every year, during the remainder of his life. 

Even at this remote period, we cannot avoid sympathiz- 
ing with this unhappy prince. Though environed by a gay 
and splendid court, this wretched victim of insanity, and 
also his children, were often suffered to want the common 
necessaries of life: and, in the violent paroxysms of his 
disorder, so shamefully was he neglected, as to be reduced 
to situations the most humiliating, as well as the most re- 
volting to human nature. 

The administration now fell into the hands of the dukes 
of Berri and Burgundy; who excluded the duke of Orleans, 
the king's brother, on account of his youth, from any share 
in the government. The case, however, was very different, 
with regard to the dutchess of Orleans. Young, beautiful, 
and insinuating, she governed the king, at her pleasure. In 
the time of his malady, he recognised no one else, not even 
the queen. Hence, it was rumoured, by the dutchess of 
Burgundy, that she had bewitched the king; and, to heighten 
the odium, it was insinuated, that the duke of Orleans had 
bewitched the queen. 

The duke of Burgundy, besides a vast domain, had the 
support of his two brothers, whose- property was consider- 
able, and power extensive. He was father-in-law to the 
heir apparent; had contracted his eldest son, the count of 
Charolois, to a daughter of the king; and, to strengthen his 
connexion with the reigning family, he had concluded a 
marriage between the auke of Touraine, second son of 
Charles, and his own niece, Jaqueline of Bavaria. 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 12f 

1405 ^ n *^ e death °^ Philip? duke of Burgundy, his son 
John disputed the administration with the duke of 
Orleans. But, by the instrumentality of hired ruffians, the 
former procured his rival to be assassinated, in the streets of 
Paris. The commission of this horrid crime, rendered the 
war implacable between the parties; and seemed to stop 
every avenue to accommodation and peace. The princes 
of the blood, combining with the young duke of Orleans and 
his brothers, made violent war upon the duke of Burgundy; 
and the unhappy king, seized sometimes by one party, and 
sometimes by the other, transferred alternately, to each, an 
appearance of the royal sanction to their acts. 

France now lay at the mercy of her neighbours. There 
was one power that did not view these disorders with in- 
difference. The advantage which might be taken of them, 
was easily perceived in England. Richard II. , the successor 
of Edward III., was an indolent and dissipated prince; 
Henry IV., the usurper of his throne, prevented, by secret 
conspiracies and open rebellions, in an unpopular reign of 
thirteen years, from attempting any foreign enterprise, had 
alternately assisted, with troops, the contending factions, by 
which France had been distracted. The same unpopularity 
did not attend his son. Impelled by the vigour of youth, 
and the ardour of ambition, and reviving the claim to the 
French crown, which had been renounced by Edward, in 
the peace of Bretigni, Henry V. resolved to carry war into 
the very heart of France. 

141 _ Henry landed near Harfleur, in Normandy, with 
thirty-thousand men, chiefly archers. He imme- 
diately invested this place, and took it, by storm, after a 
siege of five weeks. Fatigue, however, and the unusual 
heat of the weather, had so much wasted and enfeebled the 
English army, that he could enter upon no other enterprise; 
and he even sent back his transports, and a considerable 
part of his army, to England. Above fifty-thousand were 
already assembled, in Normandy, to oppose him, under the 
constable d' Albert; a force, if rightly managed, sufficient 
either to defeat the invaders in the open field, or to harass 
and totally destroy them, on their march. Henry, therefore, 
offered to sacrifice his conquest of Harfleur, for a safe pas- 
sage to Calais; but, his proposal being rejected, he deter- 
mined to force his way, and what he could not obtain by 
treaty, to accomplish by his valour. 



128 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

When he approached the Somme, he saw bodies of men, 
on the opposite banks, ready to dispute his passage. His 
provisions were intercepted, his soldiers languished under 
sickness and fatigue — his situation was altogether desperate. 
But despair is often a substitute for hope. In this extremity, 
he was so fortunate as to seize an unguarded ford, near St. 
Quintin; over which, he safely carried his army, and then 
bent his march towards Calais; the much desired goal of his 
safety and repose. But his escape was not yet secured. 
He was still exposed to imminent danger, from the French 
army, drawn up on the plains of Agincourt; and posted in 
such a manner, that it was impossible for him to proceed, 
without a battle. 

To a commander of less bravery than Henry, the pros- 
pect now before him, would have been terrific. The Eng- 
lish army, at this time, consisted of only fifteen-thousand 
men; one-half the number that he had disembarked. The 
French consisted of sixty-thousand; being four times more 
numerous, than the English; headed by the dauphin, and all 
the princes of the royal blood. Henry's situation resembled 
that of Edward III., at Crecy, and of the Black Prince, at 
Poictiers; and he observed the same prudent conduct, that 
had given success to those illustrious commanders. He 
drew up his army upon a narrow ground, between two woods, 
which guarded his flanks; and } in that posture, he firmly 
awaited the attack. 

He rode along the lines, mounted on a white charger, 
with a golden crown affixed to his helmet. Four royal 
banners were displayed before him; and he was followed by 
several led-horses, richly caparisoned,, and surrounded by 
the chief officers of his court and army. He strove to 
animate his troops. He told them, that the French had de- 
termined to cut three fingers off' the right hand, of every 
prisoner that they should take; and he declared, that every 
soldier in his army, who, on that day, conducted himself 
with gallantry, should thenceforth be deemed a gentleman, 
and enjoy the privilege of wearing a • coat-of-arms. The 
French archers, on horseback, and the men at arms, ad- 
vanced precipitately upon the English archers; who had 
fixed palisades in their front, and safely plied their assailants, 
from behind that defence, with a shower of arrows, that 
nothing could resist. 

While the first line of the English were retiring, to re- 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 129 

cover their breath, behind the second, where Henry com- 
manded in person, the duke of Alencon advanced, with the 
second division of the Freneh, in hopes of restoring the 
battle. This shock was more bloody than the first, and 
victory long remained doubtful. Eighteen French knights, 
who had entered into a solemn compact to take the English 
monarch, either dead or alive, forced their way through the 
ranks, and approached his person. One of them aimed a 
blow at his head, with a battle-axe; which, though it did 
not pierce his helmet, for a while deprived him of his 
senses. His danger was extreme. He must probably have 
fallen a victim to these associates, but for the generous 
spirit of David Gam, and two other Welsh officers; who, 
rushing between him and his assailants, sacrificed their 
lives to the safety of their king. When he recovered from 
the blow, perceiving the three gallant soldiers, to whom he 
was indebted for his preservation, expiring at his feet, he 
knighted them, as they lay on the field of battle. The 
French knights were all killed: and Henry rushed into the 
midst of the enemy, attended by his brother, the duke of 
Gloucester, who fought by his side. They continued to 
advance, with rapidity, and were soon separated from their 
troops. The duke of Gloucester was felled to the ground, 
by the stroke of a mace; and Henry, covering him with his 
shield, sustained the shock of his numerous assailants, until. 
the duke of York arrived, to his relief; when, Gloucester 
being conveyed from the field, the king renewed the attack, 
and his troops bore down all before them. 

The clay soil, moistened with rain, proved another im- 
pediment to the charge of the French cavalry. Its force 
was thereby broken. The wounded men and horses dis- 
composed their ranks; the narrow compass, in which they 
were pent, prevented them from recovering any order; .the 
whole army was a scene of route and confusion, terror 
and dismay, when Henry ordered his archers to advance. 
They accordingly fell, with their battle-axes, upon the 
French, and hewed them to pieces, without obstruction. 
The field was soon covered, with killed and wounded, dis- 
mounted and overthrown. 

Few victories were ever more complete, than this of Agin- 
eourt. The loss of the English, in killed, did not exceed 
one-hundred men — that of the French was enormous. The 
constable d' Albert, and seven princes of the blood, were 



130 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

slain; five princes were taken prisoners, with fourteen-thou- 
sand persons, of different ranks, and above ten-thousand 
French were left dead upon the field. 

The three great battles of Crecy, Poictiers, and Agin- 
court, bear a singular resemblance to each other. There 
appear, in all, the same temerity in the English princes; 
the same imprudent conduct, in the French. The imme- 
diate consequences, too, of these signal victories, were simi- 
lar. Instead of pushing the French with vigour, and taking 
advantage of their consternation, the victors seem to have 
relaxed their efforts, and allowed the enemy leisure to re- 
cover strength. Henry intermitted not his march a mo- 
ment, after the battle of Agincourt. He carried his prisoners 
to Calais, and thence to England; he even concluded a 
truce with the vanquished; and it was not until after an 
interval of two years, that any body of English troops ap- 
peared again in France. 

The cause, however, of those frequent interruptions to 
hostilities, is not very difficult to discover. They were the 
effect, rather of necessity, than choice. All the European 
princes, in that age, being poor, their military operations 
were mere incursions, without any settled plan, or conti- 
nuous design. 

But, during this intermission of attacks from England, 
France was exposed to all the furies of civil war. The se- 
veral parties became daily more enraged against each other, 
and every spark of patriotism seemed extinct. 
I 418 Incited by the duke of Burgundy, the populace 
forced open the city prisons, murdered the gaolers 
and guards, made the prisoners walk out, one by one, and 
massacred them all, as they passed, without distinction of 
rank, age, or sex. The grand Chatalet made a vigorous 
resistance. Its inhabitants ascended the towers, and at- 
tempted to repel the attacks of the mob; exhibiting, for 
some time, the anomalous sight of prisoners sustaining a 
6iege : the building, however, having at length been fired, 
in different parts, they were compelled to surrender. The 
rabble then forced them to throw themselves from the 
summit of the towers, into the streets below, on pikes which 
they held to receive them. In the court yard of the palace, 
and in the entrance of the gates of Paris, the mob stood up 
to their ancles in human blood! 

While the nation was thus laying suicidal hands upon 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 131 

itself, and was so ill prepared to resist a foreign enemy, 
Henry appeared, in Normandy, at the head of forty-thou- 
sand men; and made himself master of Falaise and. Cher- 
bourg, Caen, Evreux, and Rouen. The inhabitants of 
the latter place, made a most obstinate resistance. Enraged 
at the prolongation of the siege, Henry threatened them with 
extermination, unless they speedily surrendered. He or- 
dered gibbets to be erected, around the walls of the city, 
to which he suspended all the prisoners he had taken. 
Fifty-thousand of the inhabitants had already perished. 
Twelve-thousand persons, of both sexes, were dismissed 
from the town, as useless consumers of human food: but 
the besiegers refused them a passage through their camp, 
and drove them back, into the ditches; where they were ex- 
posed to the weather, to hunger and thirst, and to the balls 
and arrows of the enemy, as well as to the missiles of their 
friends. Baskets were let down, from the top of the walls, 
to receive several new-born infants, to whom their mothers 
had given birth, in the ditch; which, as soon as baptized, 
were returned, to their expiring parents, lest their stay 
might increase the consumption of provisions. Still, the 
people of Rouen did not lose courage. They were excited 
to this spirited resistance, by Alain Blanchard. Under his 
conduct, ten-thousand of the citizens agreed to make a des- 
perate sally: a part of them had already reached the enemy's 
camp, when the bridge suddenly gave way — the perfidious 
governor having previously caused the timber, by which it 
was supported, to be sawed nearly through — and let all 
those who were on it, fall into the river. But, even treachery 
did not force them to surrender; and Henry, perceiving 
their desperate resolution, allowed them an honourable 
capitulation. 

Notwithstanding these advantages, Henry made offers of 
peace, to both parties; to the queen and the duke of Bur- 
gundy,, on the one hand — who, having possession of the 
king's person, carried the appearance of legal authority — 
and to the dauphin, on the other; who, being the undoubted 
heir of the monarchy, was adhered to, by every one that 
regarded the true interest of his country. * After many ne- 
gotiations, Henry proposed to the queen and the duke of 
Burgundy, to make peace with them, to espouse the princess 
Catherine, daughter of Charles VI.; and to accept of all the 
provinces ceded to Edward III., by the treaty of Bretigni, 



1S2 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

1410 w fth tne addition of Normandy, in full and entire 
' sovereignty. These terms were not rejected. There 
remained only some circumstances to be adjusted; but, in 
this interval, the duke of Burgundy secretly finished a treaty 
with the dauphin; and these two princes agreed to share 
the authority, during king Charles's life; and to unite their 
arms, in expelling foreign enemies. 

This alliance, which seemed to 'cut off from Henry ail 
hopes of further success, proved, in the issue, the most fa- 
vourable event that could have happened for his pretensions. 
The two princes agreed to an interview, in order to concert 
the means of rendering effectual their common attack upon 
the English; but, how they could venture on this conference, 
seemed difficult to contrive. The assassination perpetrated 
by the duke of Burgundy, and, still more, his open avowal 
of the deed, tended to dissolve all the bands of civil society; 
and even men of honour, might deem it just, to retaliate 
upon the author. The duke, therefore, agreed to all the 
contrivances, for mutual security, proposed by the ministers 
of the dauphin. They came to Montereau: the duke lodged 
in the castle; the dauphin, in the town; which was divided 
from the castle, by the river Yonne. The bridge between 
them was chosen for the place of interview. Two rails 
were drawn across the bridge: the gates, on each side, were 
guarded; one by the officers of the dauphin, the other by 
those of the duke. The princes were to enter the interme- 
diate space, by the opposite gates, each accompanied by ten 
persons. But no precautions are sufficient, where the prin- 
ciples of honour are abandoned. The dauphin's attendants 
were zealous partisans of the house of Orleans; and they 
determined to seize the opportunity of revenging the murder 
of the prince. They no sooner entered within the rails, 
than they drew their swords, and attacked the duke of Bur- 
gundy: his friends, being astonished, made no defence; and 
they *all either shared his fate, or were taken prisoners, by 
the retinue of the dauphin. 

The extreme youth of this prince, made it doubtful, 
whether he had been admitted into the secret of the intend- 
ed murder: but, as it was committed within his view, by 
his most intimate friends, the blame of the perfidious action, 
fell entirely upon him.& 

The whole state of affairs was changed, by that unexpected 
incident The citizens of Paris, passionately devoted to the 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 153 

family of Burgundy, were excited to the highest fury, against 
the dauphin. But, above all, Philip, count of Charolois, 
now duke of Burgundy, thought himself bound, by every 
tie of honour and of duty, to revenge the murder of his 
father. Every consideration of national interest, was buried 
in oblivion. The subjection to a foreign enemy, the expul- 
sion of the lawful heir, the degradation of the kingdom, ap- 
peared but small evils, if they led to the gratification of 
revenge. A treaty was concluded, by the duke, with the 
142f) king of England, at Troyes. Through the whole 
negotiation, Henry's will seemed to be a law: nothing 
was attended to, but his advantage. The principal articles 
of the treaty, were, that Henry should espouse the princess 
Catherine, daughter of the French king: that Charles, during 
Ms life, should enjoy the title and dignity of king of France; 
that Henry should be acknowledged heir of the monarchy, 
and be intrusted with the present administration of the 
government: that the kingdom should descend to his heirs 
general: that France and England should for ever be united 
under one king: and that Henry should join his forces with 
those of king Charles and the duke of Burgundy, in order 
to subdue the adherents of Charles, the " pretended*' 
dauphin. 

Such, was the tenor of this famous treaty; acceded to, 
through animosity; to be carried into execution, by the 
sword. There was a palpable deficiency in Henry's claim 
to the crown of France, which no art could palliate. Besides 
the insuperable objection, to which Edward the Third's pre- 
tensions were exposed, Henry was not the heir of that 
monarch. If female succession were even admitted, the 
right had devolved upon the earl of Marche; for Henry 
enjoyed the throne of England, by the usurpation of his 
father. 

It behooved Henry to take the tide of victory at the flow; 
to allow men no time for reason or reflection. In a few 
days after the^treaty was signed, he espoused the princess 
Catherine, carried his father-in-law to Paris, took posses- 
sion of that capital, obtained from the parliament a ratifica- 
tion of the treaty, and turned his arms, with success, against 
the adherents of the dauphin. Sens, Montereau, and Melun, 
were soon subdued; and, being constrained to return to 
•tAQi England, for supplies, he left his uncle, the duke of 
Exeter, governor of Paris. 
M 



134 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

A reverse of fortune was suffered, during Henry's ab- 
sence. In a battle, fought at Bauge, a division of his army 
was defeated, and his uncle, the duke of Clarence, killed. 
But his arrival in France, witli a reinforcement of twenty- 
eight-thousand men, was more than sufficient to repair the 
loss. He made himself master of Dreaux, without a blow; 
and of Meaux, after a siege of eight months. The governor 
of the latter was brave; but he was also cruel. He was ac- 
customed to hang all the English and Burgundians, who fell 
into his hands; and Henry, in retaliation of his barbarity, 
ordered him to be hung, on the same tree, that he had made 
the instrument of his savage executions. 
1422 ^ ie dauphin was a ^ length chased beyond the 
Loire, and his party threatened with total destruc- 
tion; and, to fill the measure of Henry's good fortune, his 
queen became the mother of a son; who was called by his 
father's name, and regarded, both at Paris, and at London, 
as the future heir of both the kingdoms. 

To an ambitious mind, the situation of the king of Eng- 
land was most glorious. like Alexander, he had subdued 
with gigantic strides; and, like Caesar, he had only shown 
himself, and conquered. But, as was the fate of both those 
ancient heroes, his march was suddenly arrested. He had 
now reached the highest step, in his ascent to worldly honour; 
and all his dazzling prospects were withdrawn, by the hand 
of death. He was seized with a disorder, which the surgeons 
had not then skill enough to cure; and expired, in the 
thirty-fourth year of his age, and the tenth of his reign. 

He left the regency of France to his eldest brother, the 
duke of Bedford; that of England, to his youngest, the duke 
of Exeter; and the care of his son's person, to the earl of 
Warwick. 

In less than two months after the death of Henry, Charles 
VI. terminated his unhappy life; in the fifty-fifth year of his 
age, and the forty-third of one of the most calamitous reigns 
ever experienced by France. 

The same wretchedness that marked his life, accompanied 
him to the tomb. Not one prince of the Gallic line, was 
seen to follow his last obsequies; and, to defray the expenses 
of his funeral honours, the parliament ordained that his 
personal effects should be sold; a signal instance of disloyalty 
and neglect! Attended by the duke of Bedford, his remains 
were deposited, with ostentatious pomp, in the royal sepul- 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 135 

chre of St. Dennis; and, at the close of the ceremonial rites, 
a herald, having exhorted all present to pray for the repose 
of his soul, cried aloud, " Long live Henry of Lancaster, 
king of France and of England!" 

CHARLES VII. 

Maid of Orleans. 
1422—1461. 

Charles, on the death of his father, was in his twenty- 
sixth year; and, although Henry VI. of England, then only 
nine months old, had been proclaimed king of France, at the 
funeral, jet the dauphin resolved to assert his claim to the 
throne. But, when the state of their affairs was relatively 
examined, with a superficial eye, every advantage seemed 
on the side of Henry; and the total expulsion of Charles 
appeared an event, which might naturally be expected, from 
the superior power of his rival. Though Henry was yet in 
his infancy, the duke of Bedford, who had been appointed 
regent, by Henry V., was the most accomplished prince of 
the age; distinguished, alike, for his experience and prudence, 
generosity and valour. The whole power of England was 
at his command. He was seconded by the most renowned 
generals of Europe — the earls of Somerset and Warwick; 
Salisbury, Suffolk, and Arundel; Sir John Talbot, and Sir 
John Fastolfe: and, besides Guienne, the ancient inheritance 
of England, he was master of the capital, and of all the 
northern provinces of France; which were best enabled to 
furnish him with supplies, both of men and money, and to 
assist and support his English force. 

But Charles, also, was possessed of some advantages, 
which promised him success. He was the true and un- 
doubted heir to the throne of France. All men who de- 
sired the independence of their country, looked to him, as 
their only refuge; and, though most of the princes of the 
blood, were, since the battle of Agincourt, detained pri- 
soners, in England, the inhabitants of their demesnes, their 
friends and vassals, all declared a zealous attachment to the 
king. 

Charles himself was of a character, well calculated to 
become the object of this benevolent sentiment. He was a 
prince of a most friendly and benign disposition, of easy and 



136 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

familiar manners, and of a just and sound, though not of a 
very vigorous understanding. 

New succours came daily over from Scotland, and filled 
the armies of the French king. The earl of Doudas con- 
ducted a reinforcement of five-thousand men; and it was 
justly to be dreaded, by the duke of Bedford, that the 
Scots, by commencing open hostilities in the north of Eng- 
land, would occasion a considerable diversion of the English 
power, and ease Charles, in some measure, of that load, by 
which he was, at present, so grievously oppressed, 
j ^ 2 ^ Though the chief seat of Charles's strength, lay in 
the southern provinces, beyond the Loire; his party 
was in possession also of some fortresses in the north, and 
even in the neighbourhood of Paris; and it behooved the 
duke of Bedford first to clear these countries of his enemy, 
before he thought of more distant conquests. The castle of 
Dorsoy was taken by him, after a siege of six weeks; nor 
was it long, until that of Noyelle, and the towns of Rue, 
Pont-sur-Seine, Vertus, Montaign, Gaillon, La Charite, Ivri, 
and Verneuil, underwent the same fate. 

The engagement at Verneuil, was most bloody and de- 
structive. Having collected an army of fourteen-thousand 
men, one half of whom were Scots, Charles sent them 
thither, under the command of the earl of Buchan, constable 
of France, attended by his countryman, the earl of Douglas, 
the duke of Alei^on, the mareschal de la Fayette, the count 
of Aumale, and the viscount of Narbonne. The numbers 
were nearly equal, in this rencounter. The constable drew 
up his forces under the walls of Verneuil, resolved to await 
the enemy's attack. But the impatience of Narbonne, who 
broke his ranks, and obliged the whole line to follow him, 
in hurry and confusion, was the cause of his misfortune. 
The English archers, fixing their palisades before them, ac- 
cording to their usual custom, sent a volley of arrows, into 
the thickest of the French army; and, though beaten from 
their ground, and obliged to take shelter amongst the bag- 
gage, they soon rallied, and continued to make great slaugh- 
ter amongst their opponents. The duke of Bedford, in the 
mean time, made a serious impression upon the French, 
chased them off the field, and rendered the victory complete. 
The constable himself was slain, with the earl of Douglas 
and his son, and many other considerable nobility. The 
duke of Alen^on, the mareschal de la Fayette, the lords of 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 137 

Gaucour and Mortemar, were taken prisoners. There fell 
about four-thousand of the French, and sixteen-hundred of 
the English; a loss so unusual, on the side of the victors, 
that the duke of Bedford prohibited all rejoicings, for his 
success. 

The condition of the "king of France appeared now almost 
desperate. He had lost the flower of his army, and the 
bravest of his nobles. He had no resource, either for re- 
cruiting or maintaining his troops.* He wanted money even 
for his personal subsistence. The whole amount in his 
treasury, was only four crowns. Though all parade of a 
court was banished, it was with difficulty he could obtain the 
plainest necessaries for his table; and every day brought 
him intelligence of some new misfortune. 
140Q Such, was the respective condition of the par- 
' ties: — one elate with victory; the other enfeebled by 
defeat. 

But success did not relax the efforts of the duke of Bed- 
ford. He resolved on an undertaking, which, if accom- 
plished, would decidedly turn the balance, and prepare the 
way for the final conquest of France. This was, to gain 
possession of the city of Orleans. Intending to penetrate 
into the south of France, it was necessary to begin with this 
place; now become the most important in the kingdom. He 
intrusted the command of this enterprise to the earl of 
Salisbury; who had lately arrived, from England, with six- 
thousand men. The lord of Gaucour, a brave and expe- 
rienced captain, was appointed governor of Orleans, by 
Charles; and the eyes of all Europe were directed towards 
the interesting scene. 

Salisbury having been killed, by a cannon ball, the com- 
mand devolved upon the earl of Suffolk. Though he had 
several pieces of artillery in his camp, (and this is the first 
siege in Europe, in which cannon were found to be import- 
ant) the art of engineering was hitherto . so imperfect, that 
he trusted rather to famine, than to force. It was every 
day more closely invested, by the English. Great scarcity 
was already felt. Charles not only looked upon the city, 
as lost, but entertained a very dismal prospect of the general 
state of his affairs. He talked of retiring into Languedoc 
and Dauphiny; and of defending himself, as long as possible, 
in those distant provinces. But the design was vehemently 
opposed, by Mary of Anjou, his queen. His mistress, too, 

M £ 



138 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

the fair Agnes Sorrell, who (strange as it may appear) 
lived in perfect amity with the queen, seconded all her 
remonstrances; and threatened, that, if he thus inglorious- 
ly threw away the sceptre of France, she would seek, 
in the court of England, a fortune more correspondent to 
her wishes. The courage, which could not be excited by 
ambition, was roused, in the breast of Charles, by love. 
He resolved to dispute .every inch of ground; and, rather 
than fly to a distant province, to perish honourably amongst 
his friends; when relief was brought to him, by a female of 
a very different character; who caused one of the most singu- 
lar revolutions that history records. 

1429 ^ n ^ ie Dor( ^ ers °f Lorraine, in a small village, 
called Domremi, there lived a country girl, of twen- 
ty-seven years of age, named Joan d'Arc; who was a servant 
in a small inn, had been accustomed to tend the horses of 
the guests, to ride them, without a saddle, to the watering 
place, and to perform other duties, which, in inns of a larger 
class, generally fall to the share of men. The genius of this 
girl was now excited. The present situation of France, 
could not be otherwise than interesting, even to persons of 
the lowest rank, and became a frequent subject of conversa- 
tion. Joan had been taught to hold in detestation the English 
name; and the ravages of war, extended even to her father's 
cottage, increased this abhorrence. The gay and generous 
character of Charles, had rendered him the hero of the female 
sex. She was seized with a wild desire to relieve her sove- 
reign, from his calamitous distress. Her inexperienced 
mind, employed day and night upon this favourite object, 
mistook the impulses of a tender passion, for heavenly in- 
spiration; and she fancied that she was exhorted, in visions 
of the night, to re-establish the throne of France. She went to 
Vaucouleurs, informed the governor of her inspiration and 
intention; and conjured him not to neglect the voice of God, 
of which she was the organ, but to second her heavenly re- 
velations. The governor was little attentive to her, at first. 
She renewed her solicitation. She waited upon him daily$ 
and, at each successive visit, her. importunity was increased. 
He adopted, at length, the scheme of Joan, gave her some 
attendants, and accompanied her to the French court, then 
resident at Chinon. 

Not the marvellous alone, but the miraculous, also, is at- 
tached to the liistory of this extraordinary enterprise. It is 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 139 

pretended, that Joan, immediately on her admission, knew 
the king, though she had never seen him before, and though 
he purposely kept himself in the crowd of courtiers, and 
had laid aside every thing in his dress, which might dis- 
tinguish him: that she offered him, in the name of the su- 
preme Creator, to raise the siege of Orleans, and conduct 
him to Rheims, to be there crowned; and, on his expressing 
some doubts of her mission, revealed to him a secret, which 
was unknown to every person except himself, and which 
nothing but a heavenly inspiration could have discovered to 
her; and that she demanded, as the instrument of her future 
victories, a particular sword, kept in the church of St. Cathe- 
rine, of Fierbois; and which, though she had never seen it, 
she described, by all its marks, and by the place where it 
had long lain neglected. 

An assembly of grave divines examined Joan's mission, 
and pronounced it to be undoubted. Hope now succeeded 
to despair: Joan was dressed in a complete suit of armour, 
mounted upon a prancing charger, and shown to the admi- 
ring people. The dexterity with which she reined her steed, 
though acquired in her former occupation, as an ostler, was 
regarded as an additional proof of her heavenly mission; 
and she was hailed, by the gazing multitude, with enthusi- 
astic joy. Her real vocation was even denied. She was no 
longer the servant of an inn. She was converted into a 
shepherdess; and, to render her still more interesting, ten 
years w r ere taken from her age. 

The illusion was now complete. It was determined to 
try her force against the enemy. She was sent to Blois, 
where a large convoy was preparing, for the supply of Or- 
leans; and an army of ten-thousand men had assembled, as 
an escort. Before marching, she ordered all the soldiers 
to confess their sins, and banished from the camp all women 
a -i of bad fame. As she approached the Loire, a sally 
29th was mac ^ e ' ty the garrison, on the side of Beausse, 
(which was the most strongly guarded, by the Eng- 
lish) to prevent the besiegers from sending any detachments 
to the other side, by which the convoy was designed to 
enter: the provisions were peaceably embarked, in boats, 
which the inhabitants of Orleans had sent across, to receive 
them: Joan covered, with her troops, the embarkation: 
Suffolk did not venture to attack her; and the French gene- 
ral re -conducted the escorting army, in safety, to Blois, 



140 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

Under Joan's sacred influence, the garrison now believed 
themselves invincible. Perceiving so wonderful an alteration, 
both in friends and foes, the count of Dunois (a natural son of 
the duke of Orleans) consented that the next convoy, which 
was expected in a few days, should, in conformity with her 
desire, enter by the side of Beausse. — The convoy approaches; 
the besiegers offer no obstruction; the wagons and soldiers pass, 
without interruption, through the enemy's redoubts: a dead 
silence and astonishment prevail throughout those troops, re- 
cently so animated by success, and eager for the combat ! 

The Maid of Orleans (by which name, this extraordinary 
female is mostly known) called aloud, that the garrison 
should remain no longer on the defensive. The generals 
seconded her ardour; an attack was made upon one redoubt, 
which proved successful : all the English, who defended the 
intrenchments, were slain, or taken prisoners; and sir John 
Talbot himself, who had drawn together, from the other re- 
doubts, some troops, for their relief, dared not appear in 
the open field. 

The forts, at the other side of the river, were at length 
assailed, by the besieged. In one attack, the French were 
repulsed; the Maid was left almost alone, was obliged to 
retreat, and join the runaways: but, displaying her sacred 
standard, and animating them with her countenance, her 
gestures, and exhortations, she rallied the broken troops, 
and overpowered the English, in their intrenchments. In 
the attack of another fort, she was wounded, in the neck, 
with an arrow: she retreated, for a moment, behind the 
assailants, pulled out the arrow, with her own hands, had 
the wound quickly dressed, and hastily returned, to head 
the troops, and plant her victorious banner upon the Eng- 
lish ramparts. 

In these different actions, the enemy had lost six-thousand 
•»! men. Suffolk raised the siege of Orleans, and re- 
g,, ^ treated. Charles despatched six-thousand men, to at- 

* tack Jergeau, whither Suffolk had retired, with a di- J 
vision of his army. The siege lasted ten days, and the 
place was obstinately defended. Her wonted intrepidity 
was displayed, by Joan. She descended into the fosse, in 
leading the attack; and there received a blow, on the head, 
with a stone, by which she was beaten to the ground: but 
she soon recovered, and rendered the assault successful* 
Suffolk was constrained to yield himself a prisoner, to a. 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 141 

Frenchman, named Renaud: but, before he submitted, he 
asked his adversary, whether he was a knight. Renaud re- 
plied, that he had not yet attained that honour. — " Then, I 
make you one," replied Suffolk: upon which, he gave him a 
blow with his sword, which dubbed him one of that frater- 
nity, and immediately surrendered. 

Equally unsuccessful, were the enemy, in other quarters. 
The remainder of the English army, commanded by Fas- 
tolfe, Scales, and Talbot, thought of nothing but retreating, 
as soon as possible, into a place of safety. The vanguard 
of the French attacked their rear, at the village of Patay. 
The battle lasted not a moment. The English were dis- 
comfited, and fled. The brave Fastolfe himself showed the 
example of flight, to his troops; and the order of the garter 
was taken from him, as a punishment for this instance of 
cowardice. Two thousand men were killed, in this action, 
and both Talbot and Scales taken prisoners. 

The sir John Fastolfe, mentioned here, is the same person 
that is represented, in the plays of Shakespeare, as the 
facetious Falstaff; this misfortune having, it is thought, 
given occasion to that inimitable dramatist, to satirize him, 
as a braggart. 

The Maid had accomplished one part of her promise to 
the French king — the raising of the siege of Orleans. The 
crowning of him, at Rheims, was the other; and this she now 
most ardently proposed to execute. Charles did not resist 
her wishes. Accompanied by this enthusiastic female, he 
set out for Rheims, at the head of twelve-thousand men; 
every town opening its gates to him, as he passed. The 
ceremony of his coronation was there performed; and he was 
anointed, with the holy oil, brought, by a pigeon, from heaven, 
(so write the monkish historians) on the first establishment 
of the French monarchy, by Clovis. The Maid of Orleans 
stood by his side, in complete armour, displaying her sacred 
banner, which had so often terrified his enemies; and the 
people, on viewing such a complication of wonders, shouted 
with tumultuous joy. 

1430 ^^ ar( i our °f the English, for foreign conquests, 
was now much abated, by reflection. No money could 
be obtained, by the duke of Bedford, during his greatest 
distress; and men enlisted slowly under his standard, or 
soon deserted, by reason of the wonderful accounts which 
had reached England, of the sorcery and magic, and diabo- 



142 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

lical power of the Maid of Orleans. The affairs of the Eng- 
lish, in France, declined, with an accelerating course. The 
extraordinary talents of the regent, were never so severely 
tried. The bringing over of young Henry, from London, 
and having him crowned king of France, at Paris, produced 
a very trifling effect: but he expected more benefit from an 
accident, which placed in his hands the author of all his 
calamities. The Maid of Orleans was taken prisoner, when 
making a sally, at Compeigne; was tried for sorcery and 
magic, and sentenced to perpetual confinement, and to be 
fed, during life, upon bread and water. 
1 .« | Both the French and English might now have been 
convinced, that the opinion of divine influence, which 
had so much encouraged the one, and depressed the other, 
was without foundation. But the barbarous vengeance of 
Joan's enemies, was not yet satisfied. The first night after 
she was re -conducted to the dungeon which she had hitherto 
occupied, her guards took her female dress off her bed, and 
put her male apparel, which she had relinquished, in its 
place. In the morning, she earnestly entreated that the 
clothes worn by her on the preceding day, might be restored: 
but this request having been denied, she was compelled to 
clothe herself again in the forbidden garment. Thus attired, 
she was caught by her insidious enemies: her imputed fault 
was interpreted to be a relapse into heresy. No recantation 
could now suffice: no pardon could be granted $ and she was 
burned, in the market-place, at Rouen ! 

Such was the cruel death of this heroic female: whose 
unrivalled self-devotion, has reared a monument, in the 
hearts of Frenchmen, more durable than graven brass — 
more vivid than the historic page. 

For the conduct of her persecutors, no excuse can be 
found. Nor can Charles himself escape the severest repre- 
hension. An offer to exchange, or a threat to retaliate upon 
some of the many prisoners of distinction, whom he had, at 
this period, in his power, must have insured the release, or, 
at least, have prevented the execution of that generous Maid; 
to whom, he was chiefly indebted for the preservation of his 
honour, and the safety of his kingdom. 

Far from being advanced, by this execution, the affairs 
of the English went more and more to decay. The great 
abilities of the regent, were unable to resist the strong in- 
clination which had seized the French, to return to their 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 143 

allegiance, under their rightful sovereign. But the chief 
detriment sustained by him, was in the death of his dutchess; 
who had hitherto preserved some appearance of friendship 
between him and her brother, the duke of Burgundy; and his 
marriage, soon afterwards, with Jacqueline of Luxembourg, 
was the beginning of a breach between them. The duke of 
Burgundy had, for some years, appeared to relent, in his 
animosity against Charles, and to hearken to a denial, made 
by the king, of the murder of his father. The more to 
gratify the pride of that nobleman, he had banished, from 
his presence, all those concerned in that assassination; and 
had offered to make every other atonement that could be 
required; and the duke determined to unite himself to the 
royal family of France, from which his own was descended. 
1435 ^ or ^ s P ur P ose > a congress was held, at Arras, 
under the mediation of the pope, and the council of 
Basle. Nothing, however, was concluded, on the part of 
England. The mediators having declared the offers of 
Charles very moderate, the English abassadors withdrew. 

The duke sent a herald to England, to notify his acces- 
sion to the treaty of Arras, and his departure from that of 
Troye. The council was much incensed. They received 
the herald with great coldness; and even assigned him a 
lodging in the house of a shoemaker, by way of insult 
Soon afterwards, the duke of Bedford died, at Rouen; and 
was succeeded, in the regency, by the duke of York. Isa- 
bella, queen of France, had died a short time before; despised 
by the English, and detested by the French. The chief 
actors in the bloody drama, had now made their exit from 
the stage; and the curtain, which marked its close, was 
about to drop. Paris was betrayed to the French army; and 
thus, after an interval of fifteen years, was restored to the 
domination of its king. All the fields, in the north of France, 
which was the seat of war, had been laid waste, and ceased 
to be furrowed by the plough: the cities were gradually- 
depopulating; and both parties, weary of destruction, sus- 
pended hostilities, by a truce. Six years afterwards, the 
war was renewed, and the nation aroused by the clash of 
arms. Normandy was soon wholly subdued by the French: 
Guienne, also, which had remained united to England since 
the accession of Henry II., was, after a period of three cen- 
turies, incorporated with the monarchy of France; and the 



144 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

- 4 -^ English were at length expelled from all their conti- 
°' nental dominions, except Calais. 

No sooner had Charles found himself in quiet possession 
of France, than he devoted himself to the cares of govern- 
ment^ and endeavoured to repair the ravages of war, by 
promoting the arts of peace. Instead of the troops required 
from the vassals of the crown, he established a regular army, 
and levied a tax, for its support Besides this army, each 
village maintained a free archer, who was exempted from 
the king's tax; and it was in consequence of this exemption, 
otherwise peculiar to the nobility, that so great a number 
of persons soon claimed the title of gentlemen, both by name 
and arms. 

These politic measures were followed by the most im- 
portant result. No longer summoned to the field, the pos- 
sessors of fiefs had afterwards no pretence for arming their 
followers, to disturb the peace of the state : thus, the feudal 
system rapidly declined, in France; and Charles , beheld 
himself at the head of one of the largest and best regulated 
kingdoms of Europe. 

14 g.. But all the wisdom and generosity of this mon- 
arch, could not secure to him that happiness, which 
he endeavoured to procure for his subjects. His son Louis 
revolted, and brought him to an untimely grave. Being 
informed that this prince intended to destroy him, by poison, 
he long abstained from food; and literally died of hunger, 
that his unnatural son might not be guilty of parricide, in 
the fifty-ninth year of his age, and thirty -ninth of a most 
harassing reign. 

As soon as tranquillity had been restored to the kingdom, 
the taste for literature revived. On the death of Charles 
VII. , the rector of the University of Paris, offered to attend 
the funeral with twenty-five-thousand students. 

LOUIS XL 

1461—1483* 

If Louis be celebrated as a politician, he is equally de- 
tested, as a man. Rarely, in modern times, does history 
present a character so odious. To find a parallel, we must 
search amongst the very worst of the Roman emperors; and 
place him by the side of Tiberius and Nero, Caligula and 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 145 

Caracalla; whose vices and monstrous cruelties, he seems 
to have adopted, as his own. 

His leading object, in politics, was, to aggrandize the 
monarchy, by depressing the power of the nobles, and unit- 
ing the great fiefs to the crown. To aid in its accomplish- 
ment, he dismissed the able and honest ministers of his fa- 
ther; and selected, from the lowest classes of the people, 
men of a disposition similar to his own — -subtle, deceitful 
and cruel; fit servants for so tyrannical a master. The no- 
■i 4 c~ bles did not continue passive spectators of this at- 
tempt. They entered into an association, and flew 
to arms. The king, also, assembled troops, and prepared 
to face them. A battle was fought, which decided nothing: 
and, as Louis was disposed rather to negotiate, than fight, 
a peace was concluded, on terms advantageous to the no- 
bles; but which the perfidious tyrant never intended to 
fulfil. 

During this war, a custom prevailed, of which we find no 
example, at any earlier period of the French history. The 
prisoners were exposed to public sale. They were pur- 
chased with a view to make a profit by their ransom; and 
such of the unfortunate victims as were unable to buy their 
redemption, were hanged. 

14 g- Philip the Good, duke of Burgundy, was succeed- 
ed, in his extensive dominions, by the count of 
Charolois; now known by the title of Charles the Bold. 
Charles had conceived an antipathy to Louis; and, what 
more alarmed the king, he had a most intimate knowledge 
of his disposition. Both parties assembled forces; but 
Louis, having little inclination for battle, agreed to indem- 
nify the duke, for the expenses of the campaign, and ap- 
pointed an interview at Peronne, in Picardy, then in pos- 
session of Charles. Louis went to the place of meeting, 
accompanied by a few noblemen and domestics, and es- 
corted by only eighty archers of the Scotch guard, and sixty 
horse; having dismissed the rest of his guards; hoping, 
by this show of confidence, to deceive the duke: and, to 
forward the negotiation, by the distraction of his opponent, 
he even commanded some of his emissaries to enter Liege, a 
town under the dominion of the duke, and persuade the in- 
habitants to revolt. He was disappointed, however, in his 
aim. When intelligence arrived, at Peronne, that the peo- 
ple of Liege had broken out into open rebellion, at the in- 
N 



146 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

stigation of the French, and had massacred the garrison, 
Charles ordered the king to be confined in the castle; 
where he kept him shut up, for three days, in a damp and 
horrid dungeon. The sight of the tower of Peronne made 
him shudder: it was the very place, in which the unhappy 
Charles the Simple had been confined, by Herbert, count 
of Vermandois. The duke prescribed such terms, as he 
thought proper, to a prince whose liberty and life were in 
his power. Louis was constrained to march with him to 
Leige, and to aid in the reduction of the very place, which 
he had incited to revolt. 

During his whole life, he was ashamed of this imprudence 
To the Parisians, a people fond of raillery, it afforded mat 
ter of triumph. They taught their jays and magpies to re 
peat " Peronne! Peronne!": but the incensed monarch or 
dered all these insulting prattlers to be killed. 
-iajk Edward IV., of England, was engaged, as an ally 
of the duke of Burgundy, against France. When 
every point in dispute had been amicably adjusted, an in- 
terview took place, between the two monarchs, on a bridge 
over the Somme, at Pequigni, near Amiens; in the centre 
of which, a strong barrier was erected, and where such 
other precautions were adopted, as were justified by the 
treacherous spirit of the times. The extreme eagerness of 
Louis, to acquire the confidence and friendship of the Eng- 
lish, induced him to make some imprudent advances, which 
afterwards cost him no small trouble, to evade. He told 
Edward, that he should be glad to be favoured with a visit 
from him, at Paris; where he would introduce him to the 
beauties of that metropolis: and, should any offences, re- 
quiring pardon, be the consequence, he would assign him 
the cardinal de Bourbon, for a confessor; who would not 
fail to give him absolution. This hint made a deeper impres- 
sion, than Louis intended. Lord Howard, who accompa- 
nied him on his return to Amiens, told him, in confidence, 
that, if he were so disposed, it would not be impossible to 
persuade Edward to take a journey with him to Paris; where 
they might indulge themselves in mirth and recreation. Louis 
pretended, at first, not to hear the offer; but, on Howard's 
repeating it, he expressed his concern, that the troubled 
state of his kingdom, would not permit him to wait upon his 
royal guest, and do him the honours that he intended. — 
"Edward," said he, privately, to the historian, Commines, 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 14T 

" is a very handsome and a very amorous prince: some lady, 
at Paris, may like him, as well as he shall like her, and may 
invite him to return thither, in another manner. I am glad 
to have him, for a friend and brother, beyond the sea; but I 
am not fond of his company: — his predecessors took up 
their residence rather long at Paris: it is better that the sea 
be between us." 

To this prince, every measure was just, provided he 
could accomplish his design. The duke of Savoy had ren- 
dered him some service, when he was exciting an insur- 
rection against his father; and Louis, to show his gratitude, 
engaged to bring about a marriage between him and the 
heiress of Brittany. Inventing some pretence, he invited 
the duke of Brittany to his court; and, while he detained 
the father, he concerted a plan for carrying off' the daughter, 
which had nearly proved successful. 

The subsequent part of this monarch's reign, was one 
continued scene of executions, wars, and negotiations. 
Never were so many traitors seen, in France. The artful 
and hypocritical disposition of Louis, had rendered perfidy 
and deceit the fashionable vices of the court. His minis- 
ters, themselves, conspired against him; and the bishop of 
Verdun and cardinal Balue, men as wicked as himself, 
suffered those tortures that they had invented for others. 
They were each confined, for eleven years, in an iron cage, 
eight feet square, in the castle of Loche; a punishment the 
more approved, as it was of their own contriving. His own 
brother, Charles, was, by his directions, poisoned. The 
unsuspecting prince, while courting the daughter of the duke 
of Burgundy, was presented with a beautiful peach, by his 
almoner, and, in sharing the fruit, with his intended bride, 
he prepared his own destruction. The princess died almost 
immediately, and the duke survived about six months. 
Many noblemen lost their lives on the scaffold. The exe- 
cution of the duke of Nemones, was particularly barbarous. 
Louis ordered his two infant sons to be placed under the 
scaffold, that they might be sprinkled with their father's 
blood! 

He was naturally inclined to associate with persons of the 
middle class* His principal favourite was Oliver le Dain, 
who had been his barber; by whom he was more influenced 
than by any courtier in his palace. 

Amidst ail his crimes, and all his blunders, he lived to 



148 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

see his kingdom much enlarged, his subjects obedient, and 
his government firm. He united to his monarchy, Maine, 
Barois, Provence, and nearly all Artois; several cities of 
Picardy, Roussilon, Cerdagne, and the county of Bou- 
logne. The gratification experienced by Louis, from the 
success of his projects, was greatly increased by the 
birth of a son; who afterwards succeeded to the throne, 
under the appellation of Charles VIII. As he had long 
been extremely anxious for this event, he made a vow, in 
case it should occur, to otter up, at the shrine of the Virgin, 
at Pui, in Anjou, the image of a child, made of solid silver, 
equal in weight to his son, when he should attain his eleventh 
year; and he accordingly appropriated, for that purpose, one- 
hundred-and-sixty -thousand crowns of gold. 
148^ Death, at last, overtook him; but not before he had 
suffered more severe tortures, than any criminal 
punished during his reign. 

The picture drawn by Philip de Commines, of the last 
scene ol this monarch's life, is deeply shaded with horror. 
He had put to death more than four-thousand persons, by 
different kinds of torture, and without any form of trial. 
He was frequently present, at their execution; in beholding 
which, he seemed to enjoy a barbarous triumph. , Many of 
the nobility were, by his order, confined in iron cages, and 
carried about like wild beasts; while others were loaded 
with galling fetters, with a ring of a particular construction, 
for the feet. In consequence of these barbarities, lie became 
greatly afraid of death; and, during his illness, suspicious 
of every one around him. After often shifting his residence, 
and changing his domestics, he took up his abode in the 
castle of Plessis-les-Tours; which lie had encompassed with 
large bars of iron, in the form of a grate, with a watch- 
tower, of iron, at each corner of the building. Spikes of 
iron, set as thick as possible, were fastened into the wall; 
and cross-bowmen were placed in the ditches, and in the 
watch-towers, to shoot at any one who dared to approach 
the castle, before the opening of the gate. Through the 
day, the captains were ordered to guard their several posts, 
and there was a main guard in the middle of the court, as 
in a town besieged. He paid his physician, whom he feared, 
the sum of ten-thousand crowns a month; and it is said that 
he drank the blood of infants, with a view of softening his 
scorbutic humours. 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 149 

Though strongly impressed with the fear of death, Louis 
made a very inefficient preparation for his approaching end. 
Having recommended himself to the prayers of Bourdeille, 
archbishop of Tours, that prelate thought the opportunity 
favourable for exciting a lively sense of his many crimes; 
and he accordingly represented to him, that the most ac- 
ceptable offering he could make to God, would be a contrite 
heart; that gifts to the church would not expiate sins; that 
he had imprisoned several bishops, and expelled others from 
their sees, and had been guilty of many other acts, against 
his subjects. — Enraged at the freedom of his censures, Louis 
replied, that he had asked him for prayers, and not for ad- 
vice; that such complaints were an attack upon the sovereign 
authority, and bore a strong resemblance to threats; that 
Bourdeille meddled with too many affairs; and that he defied 
him, and all the prelates he had mentioned, to find any flaw 
in his conduct. The king then ordered the chancellor to 
institute a process against the archbishop and the other pre- 
lates; and Bourdeille was finally compelled to ask pardon, 
for having discharged his duty. 

But, though Louis, as he told the archbishop, asked for 

f prayers, and not for advice, yet did he wish for those prayers, 
ess for the salvation of his soul, than the re-establishment 
of his health. As he felt an inconvenience from the north- 
wind, when it blew for some days together, he ordered 
general processions to St. Dennis; but, being ashamed to avow 
his weakness, he commanded the prayers that were said on 
those occasions, to be offered up, not for a change of the 
wind, but for the health of the king and the dauphin, and the 
preservation of the fruits of the earth. We are told that his 
chaplain was one day reciting an orison to St. Eutropius, 
and, when he came to pray for " the health of the soul, and 
of the body," he was interrupted by the king, who told him, 
that he ought not to ask for so many things at a time, and 
requested him to pray only for the health of the body. — 
There is a letter of his, still extant, addressed to Peter Ca- 
douet, a monk, in which, he says, " Master Peter, my friend, 
I request you, with all possible earnestness, to pray inces- 
santly to God, and our lady of Salles, in my behalf; that it 
may please them to send me a quartan ague; for I am af- 
flicted with a malady, which my physicians tell me cannot 
be cured without it; and, as soon as I have it, I will let you 
know." 

k 2 



150 HTSTORY OF FRANCE. 

He died in the sixty-first year of his age, and the twenty- 
second of his reign, — a bad son, a bad husband, a negligent 
father, the worst of monarchs, the worst of men. 

In the tenth year of this reign (1470) the first book, printed 
in France, was executed, at Paris, by Ulric Gering. The 
art of Printing, which has had so powerful an influence in 
the improvement of the human mind, and in the reformation 
of government and religion, known to the Chinese, in a rude, 
though efficient mode, upwards of a thousand years before, 
was re-discovered, it is generally agreed, by Laurentius 
Roster, a wealthy citizen of Haerlem, in Holland, about the 
year 1450. Laurentius, it is stated, by an early writer on 
the discovery of printing, when walking, in a wood, picked 
up a small bough of a tree, which had been broken off by the 
wind. He then sat down, and amused himself by cutting 
upon it some letters, and wrapped up, in a piece of paper, 
the part which he had thus engraved. He afterwards fell 
asleep, and, when he awoke, he perceived that the paper, 
having been moistened by a shower of rain, had received an 
impression from the letters ; which induced him to pursue 
the accidental discovery, until he applied it to the purpose 
of printing. Laurentius, however, proceeded no further, 
than the use of wooden blocks; on which, were engraved the 
words, in the manner of a stereotype. To this incipient 
mode, an improvement was made, by two brothers, named 
Geinsileiche, or Guttumburg; who had been in the employ- 
ment of Laurentius, and, after his death, carried off a part 
of his printing-blocks, to Mentz, in Germany; where they 
succeeded in forming separate metal types, with engraved 
faces. But the art was yet far from being completed. It 
seems to have been brought nearly to its present state of 
perfection, by Peter Schoeffer, of the latter city; who, in the 
year 1456, cast a fount of types, from matrices or moulds, 
reviously cut with the several letters. With this invention, 
oh'n Faustus, now his partner, but formerly his employer, 
was so much pleased, that he gave the ingenious artist his 
only daughter, in marriage. 

In the year 1460, Faustus, (or Fust, as he is sometimes 
called) and his partner Schoeffer, printed an edition of the 
Bible. This was a very expensive work, and was five years 
in the press. It was this edition, as some authors relate, 
of which Faustus carried a number of copies to Paris; where 
he sold them, first for six- hundred, then for five -hundred 



I 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 151 

crowns, each; which were the prices commonly given to the 
scribes, for very elegant copies of the Scriptures. He after- 
wards, by degrees, reduced the price to thirty crowns. It 
is said, that the purchasers were ignorant that these copies 
were printed; and that it was the policy of Faustus to make 
them believe they were written. They were an exact imi- 
tation of the best manuscripts. As he lowered his price, 
his sales increased, and people were astonished at his pro- 
ducing copies as fast as they were wanted. When he 
reduced the price to thirty crowns, all Paris was amazed; 
both on account of their uniformity, and the quantity pro- 
duced. It was believed, that he had made a league with 
the devil, and he was accused of being a magician. The 
catholic clergy were alarmed, as they feared that the Scrip- 
tures would get into the hands of laymen. His lodgings 
were searched, by the officers of the police: several Bibles 
were found; and the red ink, with which the illuminators 
had made the great capitals, at the beginning of eacli chap- 
ter, was pronounced to be his blood. Faustus fled, and 
escaped the death which awaited such hapless victims of 
superstition; and, from this event, originated the story of 
44 The Devil and Doctor Faustus." 

CHARLES VIIL 

1483—1498. 

Either from the delicacy of his constitution, or motives 
of jealousy in his father, Charles had been deprived of all 
the advantages of education; so that, on his accession to the 
throne, although in his fourteenth year, lie could neither 
read nor write. From this degrading state of mental dark- 
ness, however, he soon emerged. Ashamed of his ignorance, 
the youthful monarch no sooner became his own master, 
than he applied himself to study, with indefatigable zeal; 
and engaged a learned professor, to translate, for his use, the 
Commentaries of Cassar, and the life of Charlemagne. 

Although, by the laws of the realm, Charles was now of 
age to assume the reins of government, yet it had not been 
deemed prudent to intrust them to so feeble hands. Louis, 
therefore, had, by his will, vested the administration in his 
eldest daughter, Anne of France, wife of Peter de Bourbon, 
lord of Beajeau; a woman, who seems to have inherited the 



152 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

intriguing disposition, together with the political talents, of 
her father. 

But there were others, who supposed they had stronger 
claims to the regency, and were not deterred from standing 
forward to assert them. The first of these (after the death 
of the queen-dowager) was Louis, duke of Orleans, first 
prince of the blood; who had been compelled, by the late 
king, to marry his daughter Jane; a princess, whose person 
was extremely disgusting, and so deformed, that she was 
thought incapable of having offspring. 

The other claimant was the duke of Bourbon; who, though 
of the blood royal, was so far removed from the throne, that 
there was no danger of his aspiring to ascend it. 

The two competitors filled the council with their crea- 
tures, and thwarted all the measures of the new government. 
Perceiving, however, that the prudence of Madame (by which 
title, the king's eldest daughter is known, in France) rose 
superior to all their maneuvres, they united in a request, 
that the states-general might be convened, and the arrange- 
ment of the administration be left solely to them. To this 
proposal, Anne was at length constrained to assent; and the 
states were summoned to meet at Tours. 

Meanwhile, she left no measures untried, that were likely 
to secure her interest. Persons of influence were loaded 
with favours; the guilty ministers of her father, were se- 
verely punished. She delivered into the hands of justice, 
his two greatest favourites, Oliver le Dain and John Doyac. 
Amongst a variety of crimes, of which le Dain was accused, 
the following seems most to have fixed the attention of the 
judges. — A gentleman having been arrested, by the king's 
orders, and threatened with death, his wife applied to the 
favourite, to intercede in his behalf. Her youth, her beauty, 
and her tears, made a strong impression upon Oliver: but, 
incapable of harbouring any sentiment of generosity, he 
demanded the sacrifice of her virtue, as the price of her 
husband's safety. This infamous proposal was at first re- 
jected, by the lady, with the disdain it was calculated to 
excite; but, having obtained permission to visit her husband 
in prison, she was overcome by his tears and entreaties, and 
at length consented to purchase his life with the sacrifice of 
her honour. Fearing, however, that, as soon as she had 
obtained the required favour, she would absent herself, for 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 153 

ever, from his sight, Oliver procured an order from the king, 
for the prisoner's death; and he commissioned one of his 
satellites to put the unfortunate gentleman into a sack, and 
throw him into the river. The crime was discovered, by 
some fishermen, who drew up the body, in their nets; and 
the lady had now the mortification to perceive, that the very 
means employed by her to save her husband's life, had 
proved the cause of his death. So long as Louis lived, she 
concealed her grief; conscious that the publication of her 
shame, would produce no possible advantage: but, after the 
death of that tyrant, she stood boldly forward, demanding 
justice on the assassin of her husband; and Le Daiii, having 
confessed the crime, was hanged, together with his accom- 
plice. 

Doyac, who had been a common informer, and employed, 
by Louis, to calumniate the duke of Bourbon, escaped the 
gallows, but to undergo a punishment equally ignominious, 
and more painful. He was sentenced to be whipped, in 
different parts of the metropolis; to have one ear cut off, and 
his tongue pierced with a red hot iron. He was then con- 
veyed to Montferrand, the place of his birth; where he was 
again whipped, lost his other ear, and was afterwards ba- 
nished from the kingdom. 

1484 ^n tne f° u rteenth of January, the king, accompa- 
nied by his whole court, made his solemn entry into 
Tours; and, on the following day, the session was opened, 
by a speech from William de Rochefort, chancellor of 
France. It was, at length, resolved, that the king should 
himself publish all letters patent, regulations, and ordon- 
nances, after they had been discussed by the council; that, in 
the king's absence, the duke of Orleans, as first prince of the 
blood, should preside in the council; where every measure 
should be decided by a plurality of votes: that, after the 
duke of Orleans, and in his absence, the duke of Bourbon 
should preside; and that the lord of Beajeau should have the 
third place, and preside in the absence of the dukes of Or- 
leans and Bourbon. 

The fear of offending the duke of Orleans, prevented the 
states from making any mention, in their resolutions, of 
Madame. But she had no reason to complain. They were 
so contrived, as to leave her in possession of all her power. 
If she found her measures thwarted in the council, she 



154 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

could soon remedy that inconvenience, by sending the king, 
of whose person she had the sole disposal, to preside. 

The next subject that engaged the attention of the as- 
sembly, was the state of the revenue; embracing the nu- 
merous impositions practiced in its collection and disburse- 
ment. It appears, from their proceedings, that the French, at 
this period, entertained some just and rational ideas of civil 
liberty; and, that though they had tamely acquiesced in the 
tyrannical measures of Louis XI. , they were unwilling that 
his conduct should be received as a precedent: and, had the 
states general only procured the privilege of assembling at 
fixed and stated periods, despotism could never have reached 
that alarming height, Which it attained under the succeed- 
ing monarchs of the Capetian race. The deputies seemed 
unanimous in opinion, that there ought to be a general abo- 
lition of imposts; and passed a resolution, that all taxes, 
and other arbitrary exactions, ought to be abolished; and 
that, in future, agreeable to the national franchise, no tax 
Or impost, whatever, should be levied, without the consent 
of the states general. — "Continue, august prince!" ex- 
claimed John Masselin, their speaker, addressing the king, 
44 to regulate your conduct by wholesome advice: but, be- 
ware of the arts of those perfidious counsellors, by whom 
the princes of your blood are surrounded. They will tell 
you, that a king is omnipotent; that he is never wrong; that 
nis will is law. These are monsters — objects of public exe- 
cration: exterminate them, without delay, or they will not 
only corrupt your heart, but infect your court, and the 
whole body of the nation. — The people, in a monarchy, 
possess rights, and have a real property; since they are free, 
and not slaves." 

The duke of Orleans did not long remain submissive to 
the decision of the states. He formed cabals, in order to 
obtain possession of the supreme authority, and levied 
troops. Anne, however, succeeded in getting him removed. 
He retired into Brittany, and prevailed upon the duke to 
espouse his quarrel. Many battles ensued; in one of which, 
at the village of Orange, the duke of Orleans was de- 
* feated, and taken prisoner. 

After the battle, the duke of Orleans, and his ally, the 
prince of Orange, were conducted to Saint Aubin; where 
the French general, La Tremouille, invited them, and all 



' HISTORY OF FRANCE. 155 

the officers who had been taken with them, to supper. Af- 
ter the meal was finished, he whispered something to one of 
his attendants, who, in a short time, introduced two friars 
into the room; the usual precursors of an execution. Alarm- 
ed at the sight, the princes immediately rose from the table, 
and remained motionless: but Tremouille desired them to 
allay their fears, for that their lives were safe, until the king 
should have decreed otherwise. " But," said he, "as for 
you, captains, who have been taken in the act of fighting 
against your king and country, prepare yourselves for death, 
for you must die this instant." The princes in vain inter- 
fered, in behalf of their partisans: the inhuman general re- 
mained inexorable, and his sanguinary orders were immedi- 
ately obeyed. 

The duke of Orleans, after being, for some time,, trans- 
ferred from one prison to another, was at length confined 
in the tower of Bourges; where he was treated with the 
utmost severity; being shut up, every night, in an iron 
cage. 

Three years afterwards, the king himself went to release 
him from his confinement; and commissioned him to nego- 
tiate respecting a marriage between Charles and the heiress 
of Brittany, (the only great fief which now remained dis- 
united from the crown of France) whose father was now 
dead. 

This princess, whose history is deeply interesting and 
romantic, had many suitors; but the duke of Orleans had 
met with the best reception: for, though already married, 
he intended to disengage himself from his wife, by procur- 
ing a divorce. To obtain his own liberty, however, and 
preserve Brittany from conquest, he induced the young 
dutchess to espouse the king; though the marriage ceremo- 
nial had been performed, by proxy, between her and Maxi- 
milian, duke of Austria; and Charles himself was contracted 
to a daughter of that prince; who had, for seven years, been 
educated at the court of France, and honoured with the 
title of queen. 

This princess, having been sent back to Maximilian, was 
afterwards contracted to a son of Ferdinand, king of Spain. 
It is said, that, in her voyage to that country, she had nearly 
perished, in a storm; and, expecting the vessel every mo- 
ment to sink, she wrote, with a pencil, the following epitaph 
upon herself. 



156 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

" Ci git Margot, la gente demoiselle, 
Qu' eut deux maris, et si mourut pucelle." 

Which may be thus translated:— 

" Beneath this tomb, the gentle Margaret's laid, 
Who had two husbands, and yet died a maid." 

1494 r ^^ ie s t U( ty °f the Commentaries of Caesar, and the 
life of Charlemagne, is supposed to have incited the 
young monarch to an imitation of their warlike exploits. He 
conceived the project of conquering Naples; which he sup- 
posed belonged to him, as heir of the house of Anjou; and, 
lull of gigantic ideas, he collected an army, contrary to the 
advice of his council; traversed Italy, without meeting 
scarcely any opposition; entered Rome, as a conqueror and 
master; and subdued the whole kingdom of Naples, except 
one town; all which was accomplished without money, in 
the midst of winter. 

Every place in the pope's dominions, opened its gates to 
the French, except the small town of Foscanella, which re- 
fused them admission. It was, in consequence, taken by 
assault, and abandoned to pillage. Amongst the prisoners 
who escaped the sword, was a young girl, of extraordinary 
beauty; who was reserved for the king.. Notwithstanding 
the horror and despair, which was strongly depicted in her 
countenance, and the tears which streamed from her eyes, 
Charles seized her in his arms, when, as she struggled to 
get loose from him, she perceived a picture of the virgin 
hanging in the room: — "In the name of her," exclaimed 
the virtuous maid, « who, by her purity, deserved the 
honour of becoming mother to the son of God, O, king, 
spare my honour!" — Charles, casting his eyes upon the pic- 
ture, relinquished his intention; and, being informed that 
the maid was betrothed to a young man of decent family, 
who, with her father and mother had also escaped the fury 
of the troops, and were then prisoners in the town, he re- 
leased them all, and gave the fair captive a marriage portion, 
of five-hundred crowns. 

On his return to France, Charles was attacked, at For- 
nova, by a formidable army of the united princes of Italy, 
supported by the emperor of Germany, and king of Spain; 
which he defeated; and, proceeding on his march, reached 
France triumphant, and ruined; the glory of an heroic sol- 
dier being all that he gained, with the loss of so many lives; 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 157 

his troops having been shortly afterwards expelled from all 
his conquests. 

14 qq At this time, a total revolution appears to have 
taken place, in the manners and disposition of 
Charles. Quitting those scenes of dissipation, which he had 
long been accustomed to frequent, and foregoing his taste 
for illicit indulgence, he applied himself exclusively to the 
cares of government; and, in imitation of some of his an- 
cestors, administered justice, to his subjects, in person. 

But, in the midst of these occupations, alike glorious to 
a monarch, and advantageous to Ms people, an accident oc- 
curred, which terminated the existence of this youthful 
prince. During his stay in Italy, he had contracted a taste for 
architecture; and, on his return, he gave orders, for the 
erection, at Amboise, the place of his birth, of a more mag- 
nificent edifice, than any that had yet been seen in France. 
From a gallery, in this castle, he was engaged in' observing 
a game of tennis, that was played, in the ditch below; and, 
desirous that the queen might partake of the amusement, he 
went to her chamber, and conducted her to the gallery; but, 
in passing through a door, he struck his head, with violence, 
against the top, which was very low. He felt, however, no 
immediate bad consequence from the accident; but, after 
remaining some time in the gallery, as he was returning with 
the queen, he suddenly fell, senseless, to the ground. 
Alarmed at his danger, the attendants laid him upon a 
wretched couch, which stood in a corner of the gallery: 
thrice, he recovered his voice, and as suddenly lost it; his 
expressions were solely those of devotion; and, notwith- 
standing every effort of medicine, he expired, at eleven 
o'clock, the same night, in the fifteenth year of his reign, 
and the twenty-eighth of his age. 

The University of Paris contained, at this period, twenty- 
five thousand students, most of them able to bear arms; who 
formed a kind of republic, in the midst of the capital. — The 
celebrated historian, and accomplished statesman, Philip de 
Commines, flourished in this and the preceding reign. 

In the year 1492, Christopher Columbus, a native of 
Genoa, in the employment of Spain, discovered that quarter 
of the world, called America; and five years afterwards, in 
1497, Vasco de Gama, in the service of Portugal, doubled 
the celebrated promontory, called the Cape of Good Hope; 



158 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

and, in the following summer, arrived at Calicut, on the 
coast of Malabar. 

LOUIS XII. 

1498—1515. 

The direct line of Valois, which had commenced one 
hundred-and-seventy years ago, in the person of Philip VL 
was now extinct; and the sceptre passed to Louis, duke of 
Orleans, a cousin, in the fourth degree, of the last monarch; 
and grandson to that duke of Orleans, who was assassinated, 
at the instigation of the duke of Burgundy, in the reign of 
Charles VI? _ . 

Immediately after his coronation, Louis rewarded the 
zeal and fidelity of George d'Amboise, archbishop of Rouen, 
by raising him to the dignity of prime minister; and never 
did a favourite better deserve the confidence of his sove- 
reign.* 

This prince, as we have already seen, had been compelled, 
at an early age, to marry Jane, the youngest daughter of 
Louis XI. ; and now, on the oath of Louis, that he had never 
consummated the marriage, pope Alexander VI. was pre- 
vailed upon to grant him a divorce. To this sentence, which 
deprived her of a crown, Jane submitted, with decent resig- 
nation; and only expressed a wish to be enabled to reward 
her domestics, and relieve the poor. The king accordingly 
assigned her the province of Berry, for her support; and, 
retiring to a nunnery, which she founded at Bourges, she 
there took the veil, and passed the remainder of a virtuous 
life. In the following year, he was joined in matrimony 
with Anne, the widow of the late king; a union most desira- 
ble and important for the realm; as, thereby, the dutchy of 
Brittany was secured to the crown of France. 
14QQ Deriving from his mother a claim to the dutchy of 
Milan, and inheriting the title of his predecessors to 
the kingdom of Naples, Louis involved himself in a series 

* The memory of this statesman, afterwards raised to the dignity of 
cardinal, who died in 1510, is still held in veneration, at Rouen; to the 
cathedral of which city, he gave the famous bell, which bears his name. 
It was cast in 1501, measures thirty feet in circumference: the clapper 
weighs seven-hundred-and-ten pounds, and the bell itself forty-thou- 
eand. 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 159 

of Italian wars, which continued almost during his whole 
, reign; and served only to display the martial courage of him- 
self, and his commanders, particularly the veteran Tre- 
mouille, and the young chevalier Bayard; and the treachery 
and vacillation of his allies. A detail of those wars and 
negotiations, treaties and confederacies, in which most of 
the princes of Europe were concerned, but which are now 
almost buried in oblivion, would be uninteresting, at the 
present day. It is not easy to determine, which of the 
French monarch's allies, was the most perfidious — Ferdinand 
of Arragon, the emperor Maximilian, pope Julius VI. , or the 
mercenary Swiss. The sincerity ot Louis, was but ill 
adapted, to contend against their intrigues. He was duped 
out of the kingdom of Naples, by the insidious Ferdinand; 
and, having three times conquered and lost the Milanese, 
and joined in the league of Cambray, he terminated the con- 
test, after a war of fifteen years, without acquiring one foot 
of ground. 

Humanity shudders at the incidents, which, even in our 
own days, are the concomitants of war. The French having 
taken Capua, by assault, the inhabitants were exposed to 
the fury of an enraged and licentious soldiery; and many 
females of quality, preferring death to dishonour, threw 
themselves into the river; while others, who fell into the 
hands of the conquerors, were carried to Rome, and there 
exposed to sale. Caesar Borgia, (son of the infamous pope 
Alexander VI.) who, accompanied by the French army, 
entered a tower, whither a number of these unhappy victims 
had retired for safety, after examining them all, with 
the eye of a sensualist, chose forty of the most beautiful, for 
himself 

-,~i<2 In the mean time, Louis, after seeing all his Ita- 
lian conquests wrested from him, found his kingdom 
threatened by an invasion of the English. Henry VIII. 
had sent a herald to Paris, to exhort the king not to wage an 
impious war against the sovereign pontiff; and, when he re- 
turned, without success, another was sent, to demand the 
ancient patrimonial provinces of the English crown — Anjou, 
Guienne, Normandy, and Maine. This message was under- 
stood to be a declaration of war. But the artifice of Fer- 
dinand, caused the presence of the English forces to operate 
wholly in favour of himself. He had formed a design of 
conquering Navarre; and prevailed upon Henry not to land 



160 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

his army at Calais, but to send the troops to Fonterabia; 
under a pretence, that, in the latter situation, he could assist 
him in the conquest of Guienne; and, though the English 
general refused to aid in hostilities against Navarre, yet, his 
being posted in that quarter, kept the French army in awe; 
and thus enabled the wily Spaniard to effect the conquest of 
that kingdom, and force its sovereign, John, together with 
his consort, Catherine, to seek refuge at the court of Louis. 
This spirited princess could not refrain from exclaiming, to 
her husband, " Had I been John, and you Catherine, we 
should not have lost our kingdom." 

The English acquired little honour, from this ill conducted 
enterprise; and an action at sea, which occurred soon after- 
wards, produced nothing more decisive. An English fleet, 
of forty -live sail, under the command of Sir Thomas Knevet, 
was sent to insult the coasts of Brittany; which, after having 
committed some depredations, was attacked by a French 
fleet, of thirty-nine sail, under Primauget. Primauget's 
ship took fire, and that officer, finding his destruction inevi- 
table, bore down upon the vessel of the English admiral, 
and, grappling with her, resolved to make her share his fate. 
Both fleets stood, for some time, in suspense, as spectators 
of tbi~ dreadful engagement; and the men saw, with horror, 
the flames which consumed both vessels, and heard the cries 
of fury and despair uttered by the miserable combatants; 
when, at last, the French ship blew up, and destroyed the 
English, and the rest of the French fleet escaped. 

The king of England now determined to carry on the 
war, in person. Twenty -five -thousand Swiss having made 
an irruption into Burgundy, Henry landed, in the following 
year, at Calais, with fifty-thousand men, and was soon 
afterwards joined by Maximilian, with some German and 
Flemish veterans. Terouane, situated on the borders of Pic- 
ardy, and Tournay, a city of Flanders, soon yielded to the 
English arms. But the storm which was gathering, in this 
quarter, against Louis, passed harmlessly away. Hearing 
of the retreat of the Swiss, from Burgundy, and observing 
the season so far advanced, Henry thought proper to return to 
England, and carried the greater part of his army with him. 
. ri4 Thus, was France delivered from as formidable 
' danger, as any with which she had ever been threat- 
ened; and, yielding to the solicitations of his queen, Louis 
at length concluded a peace with the pope, Leo X. But 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 161 

Anne did not live to reap the fruits of this accommodation. 
She expired, on the ninth of February, at Blois; regretted by 
the nation, and deeply lamented by the king, by whom she 
was tenderly beloved. 

Still grieving for the loss of his queen, Louis had no in- 
clination to take another partner of his throne: but the 
accounts he received of the charms of Mary, sister of the 
English monarch, joined to the desire of promoting the hap- 
piness of his people, by restoring peace, were motives too 
strong to be resisted. The articles were soon adjusted, 
between the two monarchs. Louis agreed, that Tournay 
should remain in the hands of the English, and that Henry 
should receive one-million of crowns; in consequence of 
which treaty, Mary was sent over, with a splendid retinue, 
to France, and Louis met her at Abbeville; where, on the 
tenth of October, they were married; the king having then 
reached his fifty-fourth year, and his bride being only 
seventeen. 

j _ 15 The court became a scene of festivity and pleasure. 
Enchanted with the beauty, grace, and numerous ac- 
complishments of his youthful consort, Louis, for her gratifi- 
cation, totally changed his manner of living; which produced 
so injurious an effect upon his health, that he rapidly 
declined, and was carried to the grave, on the first of Janu- 
ary, in the seventeenth year of his reign. 

Louis was a monarch of most estimable disposition. A 
professed enemy to falsehood and equivocation, he punished, 
with severity, every deviation from truth. Frank, affable, 
and gay, he gained the affections of all who knew him; while 
his attention to the welfare and happiness of his subjects, 
procured him the appellation of The Father of his People. 

He had, by his consort, Anne of Brittany, widow of 
Charles VIII., two sons, who died in their infancy; and two 
daughters, Claude, married to Francis the first, and Renee, 
who espoused the duke of Ferrara. 

The young widow of the deceased monarch, shortly after- 
wards married Charles Brandon, duke of Suffolk. The 
duke was valiant in the field, and handsome in his person. 
At the tournament of St. Dennis, in honour of the nuptials 
of Mary with the king of France, he was attacked by a strong 
and gigantic German, at the instigation of the French, who 
were envious of his reputation: but he repulsed and defeated 
his antagonist; and so noble was his conduct, that it won the 
o 2 



162 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

heart of the youthful bride, who, in three months became a 
widow, and soon offered her hand and fortune, to her 
favoured champion. From this couple, was descended, the 
celebrated lady Jane Gray; who, on the death of Edward 
VI., was induced, by her injudicious friends, to aspire to 
the English crown, and in consequence lost her head. 

FRANCIS I. 

1515—1547. 

With Louis XII., expired the elder branch of the house 
of Orleans; and the sceptre of France was transferred to 
that of Angouleme. Louis was succeeded by his grand 
nephew, Francis I., now in his twentieth year; the third 
instance, since the accession of the Capetian race, of the 
crown, in default of heirs male of the direct line, passing to 
a collateral branch. 

The adulation, received by Francis, had a fatal effect 
upon his conduct, by inflating his pride, and flattering his 
ambition. His reign presents one continued scene of war. 
Like his two immediate predecessors, he aimed at the con- 
quest of the Milanese; and that maintenance of a point of 
honour, which sought to attain an object, that, if acquired, 
could be of no service to himself, or benefit to his people, 
brought him into collision with almost every power in 
Europe. But, to particularize the many battles that were 
fought, or the numerous treaties that were made, by the con- 
tending parties, would be a task too extended for the design 
of the present work. The brands of war were scattered 
over so many places, at the same time, and their flames 
spread with so much rapidity and fierceness, that the eye 
cannot embrace them, at a single view, nor the mind dis- 
tinguish them, for observation. To condense, into a succinct 
and lucid form, the various incidents of this busy reign, 
would be no less difficult than to reckon the waves of a 
boundless ocean, when lashed by the fury of a raging 
tempest. 

Foreseeing the approaching storm, Ferdinand of Spain 
entered into a treaty with the Swiss, the duke of Milan, 
and the pope. On the fifteenth of August, Francis set out 
for Italy; and, having passed the Alps, in safety, the che- 
valier Bayard surprised and totally defeated Prospero Co- 
lonna, near Villa Franca, with a thousand of the papal horse. 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 163 

This was, however, only a trifling affair, in comparison with 
the battle of Marignano. It began about four in the after- 
noon, on the thirteenth of September, and lasted more than 
three hours after the close of the day; when the combat- 
ants were separated by lassitude and darkness, without 
any abatement of hostile rage. The king, who passed the 
night, completely armed, on the carriage of a cannon, was 
surprised to find himself, the next morning, within a few 
paces of the enemy, who renewed the charge. But Francis 
remained master of the field; which was strewed with the 
bodies of ten -thousand Swiss, and nearly four-thousand of 
the French. 

This defeat struck the duke of Milan with consternation. 
The French pushed rapidly forward; and, in a few days, 
Milan and Cremona were surrendered to the duke of Bour- 
bon. 

In the following year, Ferdinand was succeeded, on the 
1519 throne °f Spain, by the archduke Charles; and, on 
the death of the emperor Maximilian, the kings of 
France and Spain were candidates for the imperial crown. 
The attention of all Europe was fixed upon this competition. 
Each urged his pretensions, with sanguine expectation, and 
no unreasonable prospect of success. Charles considered 
the imperial dignity as belonging to him, by right, from its 
long continuance in the Austrian line. Francis, with equal 
justice, contended, that the imperial crown was not here- 
ditary, but elective. But the electors did not think it pru- 
dent to confer it upon either of the claimants. To choose 
either of the contending monarchs, would, they thought, be 
giving, to the empire, a master, in place of a head; and, di- 
recting their attention to Frederick, duke of Saxony, a 
prince, who, from the dignity of his virtue, and the splendour 
of his talents, had acquired the honourable appellation of 
"The Sage," they, with one accord, tendered to him the 
imperial crown. But Frederick magnanimously rejected 
the proffered diadem. — " In times of tranquillity," said he, 
" we wish for an emperor who has no power to invade our 
liberties: times of danger require one who has the ability to 
protect us. The Turkish armies are assembling, under the 
conduct of a prince, distinguished for his gallantry, and 
flushed with conquest. They are preparing to rush, like a 
torrent, upon Germany, with a violence, unprecedented, in 
former times. Some nand more potent than mine, or that 



164 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

of any other German prince, must, at this period, be in- 
trusted with the imperial sceptre: recourse, therefore, must 
be had to one of the rival monarchs; each of whom can bring 
into the field, troops sufficient for our defence. But, as the 
king of Spain is of German extraction; as he is a member 
and prince of the empire, by the territories inherited by him 
from his grandfather, his claim is, in my opinion, preferable, 
to that of a stranger to our language, to our blood, and to 
our country; and therefore I give my vote to raise him to 
the imperial throne. " 

This opinion made a deep impression upon the electors. 
On the twenty-eighth of June, about five months after the 
death of Maximilian, the Spanish monarch was, by the una- 
nimous voice of the electoral college, raised to the imperial 
throne, under the title of Charles V. 

1521 ^ e ^ n & °f France was most sensibly mortified, 
by this disappointment; and rather courted than 
avoided a cause of rupture. Charles had, by treaty, agreed 
to do justice to John d' Albert, the excluded sovereign of 
Navarre; whom Francis was bound by honour, and prompt- 
ed by friendship, to restore; but, though frequent applica- 
tions had been made, on this subject, to Charles, he eluded 
them all, upon frivolous pretences; and Francis therefore 
thought himself authorized to assist the exiled family. Henry 
d' Albert had succeeded to the claims of his father John; 
and an army was levied, in France, in his name, under the 
conduct of Andrew de Foix, lord of Lesparre; which re- 
duced, in a few days, the whole kingdom, without meeting 
any obstruction, except at Pampeluna; nor would the slight 
resistance made by that fortress, have deserved notice, if 
Ignatius Loyala, a gentleman of Biscay, had not been dan- 
gerously wounded, in its defence. During the slow pro- 
gress of a lingering cure, Loyala had no other amusement 
than what he could find in the lives of the saints. The 
effect of such reading, upon a mind naturally enthusiastic, 
was, to inspire him with so great a desire of emulating the 

flory of those sainted members of the Roman church, as led 
im into the most extravagant adventures, which terminated 
in the institution of the Jesuits; the most political and the 
best regulated of all the monastic orders. 

Navarre, however, was soon retaken. Stimulated by the 
ardour of youth, and encouraged by the king of France, 
who was subject to be dazzled by success, Lesparre en- 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 165 

tered the dominions of Spain; and the Castilians being 
thus roused from their lethargy, the French army was at- 
tacked, at Squiros. Lesparre himself was wounded, and 
taken prisoner; and Spain recovered possession of Navarre, 
in less time than had been spent in its conquest by the 
French. 

Having secured the alliance of the pope, and the friend- 
ship of cardinal Wolsey, (prime minister of Henry VIII. 
of England) for whom he promised to obtain the papal dig- 
nity, on the death of Leo, Charles resolved to seize the first 
opportunity of coming to an open rupture with the king of 
France. The count of Nassau laid siege to Mousson; which, 
owing to the cowardice of the governor, surrendered with- 
out resistance. He next invested Mezieres: but, happily 
for France, the king, sensible of its great importance, had 
intrusted its defence to the chevalier Bayard; who pre- 
ferred death to dishonour, and, by his valour and integrity, 
had obtained the appellation of " The knight without fear, 
and without reproach." By repeated exertions of valour 
and able conduct, he contrived to protract the siege to a 
considerable length, and obliged the imperialists to retire, 
with considerable loss. 

The league between the pope and the emperor, produced 
a sensible effect in Italy, and rendered Lombardy the theatre: 
of war. Milan having been betrayed to Leo, nearly the 
whole dutchy revolted from France. These disasters" were 
soon followed by the loss of Genoa, and the defection of the 
Venetians; and France had now to oppose a confederacy of, 
all the Italian princes, except the duke of Savoy. 

During these transactions, pope Adrian, who had suc- 
ceeded Leo X., died, to the great joy of the Roman people; 
who hailed his physician as "the deliverer of his country." 
He was succeeded, in the chair of St. Peter, by the cardi- 
nal de Medicis; who assumed the appellation of Clement 
VII. 

La Tremouille had a more formidable enemy to en- 
counter, in Picardy, invaded by the united armies" of Eng- 
land and Flanders, amounting to twenty-four thousand 
men. The duke of Suffolk, who commanded them, pene- 
trated as far as the banks of the Oyse, within eleven leagues 
of Paris; filling that capital with consternation. But the 
invaders were at length compelled to retire; and Tremouille 



166 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

had the glory of checking, with a handful of men, a numer- 
ous army, and of expelling them from France. 
1 __ - The French monarch should have contented him- 
self with providing for the future defence of his 
kingdom ; but he was yet bent upon the recovery of the 
Milanese. He accordingly crossed the Alps, with a power- 
ful army, at Mount Cenis, marched directly to Milan, of 
which he made an easy conquest, and then laid siege to the 
city of Pavia. Its governor was reduced to the greatest ex- 
tremity; and the Germans, having received no pay for 
seven months, threatened to deliver the town to the French: 
but the duke of Bourbon (who, in consequence of being per- 
secuted by the queen-dowager of France, had joined the 
imperial standard) having arrived, with twelve-thousand of 
their countrymen, gave them a superiority over the French. 
A sanguinary engagement followed. Francis continued 
fighting, until exhausted by fatigue; and, scarcely capable 
of further resistance, he was left almost alone, exposed to 
the fury of some Spanish soldiers. At that moment, came 
up Pomperant, a French gentleman, who had accompanied 
Bourbon, in his flight; and, placing himself by the side of 
the monarch, against whom he had rebelled, assisted in pro- 
tecting him from the violence of the soldiers; at the same 
time, conjuring him to surrender to Bourbon, who was not 
far distant: but the name of Bourbon roused the indignation 
of Francis; who called for Lannoy, and gave to him his 
sword. Francis was immediately conducted to the impe- 
rial camp, where his wounds were dressed; and whence he 
despatched this laconic epistle to his mother: — " Madame, 
all is lost, except our honour." 

Ten-thousand men fell in this fatal action, and the field 
of Pavia was stained with the best blood of France. La 
Tremouille and Bonnuet were amongst the slain: the king 
of Navarre, Montmorenci, and many other illustrious war- 
riors, were made prisoners, with Francis. 

The feeble garrison of Milan, on the first news of this de- 
feat, retired, without being pursued; and, in two weeks after 
the battle, not a French soldier remained beyond the Alps. 

But this signal victory over Francis, produced one con- 
sequence, which the most sagacious politician could not have 
foreseen. Startled at the fatal effects of that battle, Henry 
VIII. had become sensible of his own danger, as well as 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 167 

that of all Europe, from the loss of a proper counterpoise to 
the power of Charles; while his minister, Wolsey, was en- 
raged at the recollection of the emperor's treachery, in having 
deluded him with vain promises of the papal crown: the 
English monarch, therefore, seized the first decent pretence 
for withdrawing from his alliance. 

Meanwhile, the hard treatment, received by the French 
king, in his confinement at Madrid, threw him into a fever; 
and the emperor, fearful of losing, by his death, all the fruits 
of his victory, condescended to pay him a consolatory visit 
As he approached the bed, in which Francis lay, the sick 
monarch said to him, " You come, sir, to visit your prison- 
er."— -" No," replied Charles, " I come to visit my brother 
and my friend, who shall soon obtain his liberty." 
1526 ^is flattering language, together with the spe- 
cious promises of the emperor, had so good an effect 
upon the king, that he daily recovered: but the expectations 
which he had been led to entertain, vanished, with the re- 
turn of health; and Francis, in despair, resigned his king- 
dom to the dauphin. 

Charles became seriously alarmed. Wisely judging that 
a larger ransom could be obtained for a living, than a dead 
king, he consented to a treaty; which was accordingly con- 
cluded, after Francis had secretly protested, in the presence 
of his friends, against the validity of a contract, extorted, 
as he said, by force; a species of casuistry, to which we are 
very far from assenting. 

The most objectionable article in this treaty, was that by 
which Francis engaged to cede Burgundy to Charles. 

On the eighteenth of March, Francis was conducted to 
Fontarabia, and hastened to the banks of the Bidassoa, ac- 
companied by Lannay, Alarcon, and an escort of fifty horse; 
while his two sons appeared on the opposite shore. His 
sons having been delivered to the Spanish officers, as hostages 
for the performance of the treaty, the king crossed the river; 
and, instantly mounting a Turkish horse, waved his hand 
over his head, and, exclaiming, " I am yet a king!" galloped, 
at full speed, to St. John de Luz, and thence to Bayonne; 
where he was joyfully received, by his whole court. 

But Charles, by grasping at too much, gained nothing, 
by the hard conditions imposed upon the imprisoned king. 
The states of Burgundy declared against the clause for the 
alienation of their province: the pope and the Venetians, 



168 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

the Swiss, the Florentines, and the duke of Milan, entered 

into a treaty with Francis; by which, on condition of his 

renouncing all his pretensions in Italy, except to Genoa and 

the country of Aste, they engaged to compel the emperor to 

deliver up the two young princes, on payment of an equitable 

ransom. 

1527 Grown careless, by the hopes arising from this 

contract, the king neglected to send reinforcements 
to his Italian allies; and meanwhile the duke of Bourbon led 
his army to Rome; and, though he was himself killed, by a 
random shot, when planting a ladder against the walls, yet 
his soldiers took that city, by assault, and exercised all those 
barbarities, which may be expected from ferocity excited by 
resistance, and insolence inflated by success. Another error, 
not less serious, in its consequences, was soon afterwards 
committed, by the French monarch. Prevailed upon, by 
the fatal councils of his ministers, he disgusted his admiral, 
Doria; and this able officer, having entered into a negotia- 
tion with the emperor, delivered Naples from the distressing 
effects of a blockade, and his native city, Genoa, from the 
galling trammels of a foreign yoke. 
1 f.QQ Francis now entertained serious thoughts of peace. 

The emperor, also, alarmed at the rapid progress of 
the Turkish arms, embarrassed by the propagation of the 
doctrines of Luther, in Germany, and the seditious murmurs 
of his subjects in Spain, evinced an inclination to intermit 
the tournament of war. A treaty was concluded, at Cam- 
bray. Francis renounced all pretensions to the dutchy of 
Milan, the country of Aste, and the kingdom of Naples; 
took, for his second wife, Eleanora, the emperor's sister, and 
relinquished his rights to the sovereignty of Artois, and the 
possession of Tournay and Arras; and Charles accepted two- 
millions of crowns, as the ransom of the French princes. 

Meanwhile, the progress of the Reformation, in Germany, 
was rapid and extensive; and the princes of the empire, who 
professed the doctrines of Luther, finding that liberty of 
conscience was denied them, had combined, in a league, for 
their own defence, at Smalcalde; and, because they protested 
against the votes passed, by the Catholic princes, in the im- 
perial diet, at Spires, for the defence of the established faith, 
they thenceforth received the appellation of Protestants. 
1535 ^* x J ears afterwards, the armies of the rival mon- 

archs were again arrayed against each other; hos- 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 169 

tilities were renewed, in Italy, by Francis; his kingdom was 
invaded by the emperor; and the war continued until the 
year 1538, when it was ended by a truce. 
1540 *' ^withstanding these bloody conflicts, the 

rival monarchs seemed capable of mutual friendship. 
They appeared to extend towards each other urbanity and 
confidence. The citizens of Ghent having revolted, and 
his immediate presence being required, to reduce them, 
Charles asked and obtained a passage to the Netherlands, 
through France. On the first of January, he made his public 
entry into Paris. But the profusion of honours heaped 
upon him, was insufficient to- remove his apprehensions; 
and, conscious that he merited no kindness from his rival, 
he began to blame his own imprudence, in having put him- 
self into his power. Impressed with these ideas, he was 
greatly alarmed at a joke passed upon him by the duke of 
Orleans; who jumped up behind him upon his horse, and, 
throwing his arms around his waist, exclaimed — " Your 
imperial majesty is now my prisoner." — At another time, 
Francis, who was candour itself, told him, that the dutchess 
of Estampes (mistress of the king) was of opinion, that he 
should not suffer him to leave Paris, until he had revoked 
the treaty of Madrid. " If the advice be good," replied the 
emperor, greatly disconcerted, "you ought to follow it;" at 
the same time, he purposely let fall a superb diamond, which 
the dutchess picked up, and which he begged her to accept: 
she complied with his request; and, in the sequel, repaid his 
attention, by betraying the interests of her sovereign. The 
king's fool having placed the emperor's name on his list, for 
having put himself in the power of his rival, observed, that, 
if the king suffered him to escape, he would efface the em- 
peror's name, and insert his master's, in its place. 
■ikai The emperor had promised to Francis the investi- 
ture of Milan, but, having obtained the desired favour, 
had failed in its performance. The king was greatly enraged, 
when he found himself the dupe of his unprincipled rival; 
and his indignation was augmented, in proportion as he per- 
ceived that the credulous simplicity with which he had 
trusted him, exposed him to the ridicule of Europe. He 
suspected the fidelity of his own servants; and, though he 
had resolved upon a renewal of the war, he dismissed his 
he^i general, Montmorenci. 

The flames of war, which had been suppressed, but not 
P 



170 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 



extinguished, again arose, with unabated fury. The king 
of England withdrew from his alliance with France, and 
joined the emperor; notwithstanding the ill treatment he 
nad formerly experienced from Charles. He pretended 
that Francis had engaged to support the Scots against the 
power of England, and he had also received information of 
some railleries, indulged in, by the French king, with regard 
to his wives. 

1 544 '^' ne i m P er ial forces met with a severe defeat, at 
' Cerizoles; where ten-thousand of their number were 
slain, and four-thousand taken prisoners. Henry soon after- 
wards landed, at Calais, with thirty-thousand men, and was 
joined by fourteen-thousand, under the admiral of Flanders. 
Charles, having taken the field with sixty-thousand, made 
himself master of Luxembourg, Com mercy, and St. Dizier; 
and, proceeding on his march, advanced as far as Epernay 
and Chateau-Thierry. The Parisians hastened to quit the 
capital, and the roads to Rouen and Orleans were covered 
with wagons, loaded with their wives and children, and ef- 
fects. But the dauphin, by a forced march, contrived to 
throw himself between the army of Charles and Paris; the 
emperor turned to the left, and marched to Soissons; and, 
finding his schemes for subduing France likely to prove 
abortive, proposed terms of accommodation to the king; and 
a treaty was accordingly concluded, at Crespy, in the Laon- 
nois. 

- - 45 The war between England and France was not 
distinguished, this year, by any memorable event. 
The French fleet, consisting of two-hundred sail, and the 
English of one-hundred, cannonaded each other, off the Isle 
of Wight, for two days; but, except the sinking of one vessel 
of the English, the damage, on both sides, was of little 
moment It was, indeed, scarcely possible, that a fleet 
could, at that time, obtain any considerable advantage, over 
an enemy, without boarding. The cannon were generally 
so ill served, that, it is mentioned, by a French writer, as 
something extraordinary, "that each of these numerous 
fleets, during an engagement which lasted three hours, fired 
fully three-hundred shot;" whereas, a single vessel could 
now, without difficulty, discharge three times the number. 
1 -.^ Thus, have we given an imperfect sketch of the 
, * ever-changing operations of this eventful reign. Our 
pen is soon to be relieved from the fatiguing task. One of 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 171 

the chief actors, in the murderous drama, was at length 
summoned before that throne, where kings, as well as their 
subjects, the oppressor and the oppressed, must tremble, 
and await their doom. The last hours of the life of Fran- 
cis, were embittered with domestic contention, arising from 
the rivalry of the dutchess d'Estampes, and Diana of Poic- 
tiers, mistress of the dauphin. A slow fever continually 
preyed upon him: he wandered from one palace to another, 
in a state of languor and depression; and at length expired, 
at Rambouillet, in the fifty-third year of his age, and the 
thirty-third of his reign- 
Francis was an ardent patron of the sciences; and es- 
tablished salaries for professors of Hebrew, Greek, and 
Latin, surgery and physic. A mathematical professor was 
also instituted, during his reign, and the study of natural 
philosophy began to be cultivated, with diligence and success. 
From the year 1528, to 1534, perpetual summer pre- 
vailed in France. During four years, not two days of frost 
were experienced: nature, exhausted by a continued heat, 
incessantly produced blossoms, but had not strength to ma- 
ture the fruit. A scarcity of provisions was the conse- 
quence of this phenomenon; and the harvest was scarcely 
sufficient to supply seed for the following year. A most 
dreadful famine prevailed; and the use of unwholesome 
food, produced a disorder, which carried off one fourth of 
the inhabitants. 

HENRY II. 

1547—1559. 

The throne was now occupied by Henry II. ; the only 
surviving son of the late king, by Claude, daughter of Louis 
XII., now in his twenty-eighth year. 

Notwithstanding the dying injunctions of his father, 
Henry hastened to recall the constable Montmorenci; whom 
he re-established in the possession of all his honours, and 
placed at the head of the administration. Five different 

Earties at this time existed in France. The first was headed 
v the king's mistress, Diana of Poictiers, created dutchess 
of Valentinois; the second, by Montmorenci; the third, by 
the house of Guise; the fourth, by the mareschal St. Andre; 
the fifth, by the queen, Catherine of Medicis, a daughter of 
the duke of Florence. 



VT% HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

Though war is the most afflicting scourge of nations, it 
»eems to be the most fascinating amusement of kings. During 
this reign, the sword was continually stained with blood. It 
presents a distressing narrative of unnecessary battles 5 a 
horrid spectacle of carnage and desolation. The able de- 
fence of Metz, by the duke of Guise, the most celebrated 
warrior of the French armies, caused terrible destruction 
amongst the besiegers, headed by the emperor himself. 
Finding it impossible to contend longer with the rigour of the 
season, and with enemies whom he could neither overpower by 
force, nor subdue by art, while, at the same time, a contagious 
distemper raged amongst his troops, Charles yielded to the so- 
licitations of his general ; who conjured him to save the re- 
mains of his army, by a timely retreat. " Fortune," said he, 
"I now perceive, resembles other females, and chooses to con- 
fer her favours upon young men ; while she forsakes those 
who are advanced in years." 

On the twenty-sixth of October, Charles gave orders to 
raise the siege, after having; continued fifty-six days before 
the town; during which time, he lost thirty-six-thousand 
men. The duke of Guise took measures to molest the im- 
perialists, on their march. Such was the confusion, in 
which they made their retreat, that the French might havfe 
annoyed them in the most cruel manner. But, when they 
sallied out, a spectacle presented itself to their view, which 
extinguished, at once, all hostile rage, and melted them into 
tenderness and compassion. The imperial camp was filled 
with the sick and wounded, the dying and the dead. In 
all the different roads, by which the army retired, numbers 
were found, who, having made an effort to escape, beyond 
their strength, were left, when they could go no further, to 
perish, without assistance. This, they received from their 
enemies; to whom, they were indebted for all the kind 
offices, that could not be performed by their friends. The 
duke of Guise ordered proper refreshments, for such as were 
dying of hunger; appointed surgeons to attend the sick and 
wounded; and, as soon as they recovered, he sent them 
home, under an escort of soldiers, with money to bear the 
charges of the road. 

1556 ^ ne em P eror a * l en gth grew weary of the burthen 

of government, and the toils of war. He surprised 

the world, by resigning Spain to his son, Philip II.; and, 

in about a year atterwards, having resolved to withdraw, 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 173 

entirely, from the troubles of the world, that he might spend 
the remainder of his days in solitude, he relinquished the 
imperial dignity, to his brother Ferdinand, king of the Ro- 
mans. 

Henry VIII. was succeeded by his son, Edward VI.; 
who, after a reign of only a few years, made room for his 
half-sister, Mary; at the period to which our history has ar- 
rived, on the throne of England. Mary was married to 
Philip II. ; a monarch equally bigoted in favour of the Ro- 
man Catholic doctrine, and as gloomy and tyrannical as the 
. - _ 8 queen herself. In the fifth year of her reign, Calais, the 
only place remaining to the English, on the continent, 
was taken, by the duke of Guise, after a siege of only eight 
days; having been in their possession ever since its capture 
by Edward III., a period of two-hundred-and-ten years. 
This event sunk deep into the mind of Mary: she had long 
been in a delicate state of health; a variety of reflections 
now tormented her, which threw her into a fever; of which, 
she died, in the sixth year of her reign. She was succeeded 
by her half-sister, Elizabeth, (daughter of Henry VIII. and 
Anna Boleyn) a princess of the protestant religion; who, 
though herself not wholly free from the charge of tyranny, 
yet displayed talents for governing, and a love of her coun- 
try, which rendered her the most illustrious sovereign of 
that age. 

In the following year, plenipotentiaries from the belli- 
gerent parties, assembled, at Chateau-Cambresis, and there 
agreed upon the terms of peace. The treaty between France 
and England contained no article of importance, except that 
which regarded Calais; which was allowed to remain with 
the French. The principal articles between Henry and 
Philip, were, that the two monarchs should labour, in con- 
cert, to procure the convocation of a general council, in 
order to check the progress of heresy, and restore unity and 
concord to the Christian Church; and that all the conquests, 
made on this side of the Alps, since the commencement of 
the war, in 1551, should be mutually restored; and, thus, 
by this famous treaty, peace was re-established in Europe, 
after nearly thirty years' continuance of war; and all causes 
of discord seemed to be wholly removed. 

Soon after its conclusion, the duke of Savoy repaired, 
with a numerous retinue, to Paris, to celebrate his marriage 
with Henry's sister. The duke of Alva was sent, to the 
p 2 



174 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

same capital, at the head of a splendid embassy, to espouse 
the king's daughter, Elizabeth, in the name of his mas- 
ter, the king of Spain: the ceremony was performed, on 
the twenty-sixth of June, at the church of Notre Dame. 
Great rejoicings and festivities took place, on this oc- 
casion, and a grand tournament was held, in the Rue Saint 
Antoine; at which, the palm of victory was borne away by 
the king. But, as he was returning from the circle, he 
perceived two lances, at one end of the lists, which were 
unbroken: one of these he took himself, the other he sent to 
Montgomery, the captain of his guards; a man eminently 
skilled in every martial exercise; inviting him to break it, 
with his sovereign, in honour of the ladies. Montgomery 
hesitated, for some time, and even twice refused to obey 
the summons: Mary, queen of Scotland, and the queen of 
France, too, who were present, sent, to entreat the king to 
content himself with the glory he had already acquired, and 
to run no further risk; — Henry, however, persisted; and, at 
length, sent a positive order to Montgomery, to prepare for 
the assault. He obeyed: the attack was violent; their lances 
were shivered into pieces: but the king's vizor having been 
deranged, by the shock, one of the broken pieces of his ad- 
versary's lance, pierced his forehead, just above the left 
eye, and he fell senseless upon the ground. He was im- 
mediately conveyed to his palace; and the surgeons, after 
examining the wound, declared it, though dangerous, not 
incurable: but an abscess having unexpectedly formed in the 
head, their utmost skill proved ineffectual; and, on the 
tenth of July, Henry expired, in the forty -first year of his 
age, and the thirteenth of his reign. 

The character of this monarch, may be traced in a few 
words. He was more of the warrior, than the statesman; 
active and intrepid in the field, but weak and irresolute in 
the council: the best quality, in his disposition, was his 
constancy in friendship; the worst, his cruelty in religion. 

During the reign of Henry, the doctrine of the reformers 
began to spread, with great celerity, in France; and the 
persecuting spirit of that monarch, instead of nipping it in 
the bud, served only to expand its blossoms, and give ma- 
turity to that fruit, which it was designed to blast. The 
French reformers, known by the appellation of the Hu- 
gonots, were chiefly of the sect of Calvin; and their prin- 
ciples, of course, further removed from the established 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 175 

church, than those of the more moderate followers of Lu- 
ther, and more likely to raise disgust, in the minds of the 
Roman Catholics; who were firmly resolved to adhere to 
the ancient religion of their country, with all its myste- 
rious ceremonies and creeds. An inquisition was establish- 
ed, in France, by pope Paul IV. ; several Calvinists were 
committed to the flames, and many sought refuge amongst 
the Swiss. 

John Calvin, the celebrated reformer, whose doctrines are 
followed by the church of Scotland, and the majority of 
presbyterians in other countries, was born at Noyou, in Pi- 
cardy, in the year 1509, and died in 1564, in his fifty -fifth 
year. He studied grammar under Corderius; who, on ac- 
count of his truly classic style, may justly be ranked 
amongst the purest writers of the Latin tongue. Corde- 
rius, the author of the well known primary class-book, the 
Colloquies of Cordery, was born in Normandy, in the year 
1479, and died at Paris, in 1564, in the eighty-fifth year of 
his age. 

Some estimate may be formed of the number of inhabi- 
tants, in Paris, during this reign, by the circumstance, that 
they could muster forty-thousand persons capable of bearing 
arms. 

FRANCIS II. 

1559—1560. 

The short reign of Francis II., son of the deceased 
monarch, who had just entered his sixteenth year, exhibits 
nothing but conspiracy and intrigue. His education had 
been neglected, not from inattention or design, but through 
necessity, owing to the weakness of his body. Without de- 
sires, without vices, without virtues, he was destined to be- 
come a pliant instrument in the hands of any faction, that 
should take possession of him. This was effectually ac- 
complished, by the house of Guise. Having caused Francis 
to espouse Mary Stewart, queen of Scotland, their niece, 
this family, descended from a younger branch of the house 
Lorraine, assumed the whole authority to themselves. Of 
the Guises, who acted so conspicuous a part, during this 
reign, there were six brothers — the duke of Guise, the car- 
dinal of Lorraine, the duke of Aumale, the marquis of 
Elbeuf, the cardinal of Guise, and the Grand Prior: but 



176 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

only the first two performed a leading part, in the great 
theatre of state. 

Anthony, king of Navarre, and his brother, Louis de 
Bourbon, prince of Conde, nearly related to the crown, as- 
sisted by the admiral Coligni, and others of the Hugonot 
party, endeavoured to seize the administration: but, the 
conspirators having been detected, three of the chiefs were 
executed, in the presence of the queen-mother and the 
ladies of the court. Nearly twelve-hundred were hanged, 
drowned, or beheaded. Villemongi, when brought to the 
scaffold, dipped his hands into the blood of his associates; 
and, raising his eyes towards heaven, exclaimed, "Heavenly 
Father, behold the blood of thy children, which thou wift 
revenge." 

The prince of Conde, who was chosen leader of the Hu- 
gonots, was condemned to lose his head; but the sudden 
death of the king, suspended the execution, and saved his 
life. The king's disorder was an abscess in the head; 
which put an end to his existence, in the eighteenth year of 
his age, after a reign of only seventeen months. 

In the beginning of the year, several reddish spots having 
appeared on his face, the king was advised to set out for 
Blois, and there prepare himself, by moderate exercise, for 
the use of aromatic baths. Apprized of his intention, some 
evil designing persons had spread a report, that the king 
was afflicted with the leprosy; and that the only remedy 
that could be of service, was to bathe in the blood of infants. 
A number of emissaries had visited all the villages within 
twenty leagues of Blois; and, while some, without entering 
into any explanation, took an exact list of the most healthy 
and beautiful children, others, who followed them, at some 
distance, revealed the secret, and promised the parents, for 
a trifling reward, to procure the erasure of the children's 
names, from the fatal list. By this abominable maneuvre, 
the report, absurd as it was, obtained such credit, amongst 
the common people, that, instead of the acclamations of joy, 
with which they were accustomed to hail their sovereigns, 
alarm, sorrow, and desolation, marked the progress of the 
court. Most of the towns and villages were abandoned; 
while those persons who had courage to remain in their 
houses, had strongly barricadoed their doors, and did not 
even dare to look through the windows. Troops of peasants, 
carrying off their children, were descried in the fields; and, 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 177 

wrhen pursued, they fell upon their knees, and implored 
mercy for their infants. At this unusual spectacle, the king 
burst into tears; and insisted, with so much eagerness, on 
knowing the cause, that his attendants were under the ne- 
cessity of telling him the truth. His amazement may easily 
be imagined. He endeavoured to dispel the fears of the 
wretched fugitives, and ordered the strictest search to be 
made, to discover the authors of so infamous a report. 

CHARLES IX. 

Massacre of St. Bartholomew. 
1560—1574. 

The crown now devolved upon Charles IX., next brother 
to the monarch deceased; at this time, only in his eleventh 
year. Incapacitated, by his extreme youth, from holding 
the reins of government himself, his mother, Catherine of 
Medicis, at first assumed the authority; but was shortly 
afterwards compelled to relinquish a considerable portion 
of the sovereign power, to the king of Navarre; who was 
created lieutenant general of France. 

Though little disturbed by hostilities with any foreign 
state, France was convulsed, during nearly the whole of this 
reign, by civil war. The catholics and protestants arrayed 
themselves against each other, with deadly force. But the 
sacred duty of an historian, compels us to say, that the latter 
are not entirely innocent of the charge of having been the first 
aggressors, in the present reign. They drove the catholic 
priests from the altars, and despoiled their churches. Be 
this imputation, however, true or false, the wily Catherine 
practised against the reformers, her accustomed dissimula- 
tion; and even carried her hypocrisy so far, as seemingly to 
favour their party. The prince of Conde, who, before the 
death of Francis, had been sentenced to the scaffold, was 
now permitted to repair to the court, at Fontainbleau; where 
he was justified from the charges, for which he had been 
condemned; and it was ordained, that all fugitives and exiles 
should be allowed to return to France; that no one should 
be suffered to molest them, so long as they lived without 
giving offence; and that the partisans of the new religion, 
might assemble, unarmed, without the walls of the several 
towns, in order to perform divine worship, under the im- 



178 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

mediate inspection of a magistrate. But, a number of pro- 
testants having convened within the small town of Vassi, in 
Champagne, through which the duke of Guise happened, at 
that time, to pass, provoking language was used, towards 
some officers, sent by him to remonstrate on this infringe- 
ment of the royal license, and a riot ensued, in which nearly 
two-hundred of the reformers were slain. 

The news of the massacre of Vassi, as it was called, by 
the Hugonots, was soon spread over Europe; and the party 
endeavoured, by means 01 this event, to render the duke of 
Guise an object of general execration. 

The prince of Conde, with the admiral Coligni and his 
friends, repaired to Orleans; where they were soon after- 
wards joined by all the Hugonots of Paris. That city be- 
came a second capital in the kingdom. The prince of 
Conde was chosen head of the association, and couriers 
were despatched, to the different provinces, (which contained 
twenty-five-hundred Hugonot churches) to request a speedy 
supply of men and money. The inhabitants of Beaujenci, 
Blois, Tours, Augers, and Mans; Poictiers, Bourges, and 
Angouleme; immediately flew to arms, and massacred or 
expelled the clergy, and all the catholics who made any 
resistance; and, as there were many rich abbeys and monas- 
teries, in these towns, the Hugonots found means, not only 
to maintain the garrisons, but to pour considerable sums 
into the military chest of the prince of Conde. 

In Guienne, the royal forces were commanded by Blaise 
de Montluc. In Dauphine, where the revolution was almost 
general, the reformers were headed by the Baron des Andrets. 
His very menaces terrified the city of Grenoble; which ejected 
its catholic partisans, and destroyed the images and altars 
of the churches. All the other towns of Dauphine, except 
Embrun and Araincon, followed this example. His name, 
already terrible, became, every day, more dreadful, by his 
actions. "When Monbrizon was taken, and the castle capi- 
tulated, he drenched the streets with blood; and precipitated, 
or made several of the soldiers, together with the governor, 
throw themselves from the summit of a tower. One of the 
unfortunate captives, whom he had ordered to leap from the 
top of a precipice, ran twice to the brink, and then stopped. 
Des Andrets reproved him, for his slowness, and asked him 
why he should take two runs, when his companions had 
taken only one: — " Brave, as you are, baron," replied the 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 179 

soldier, "I'll give you ten runs to it;" — an unexpected 
answer, which extorted a smile from the baron, and saved 
the man's life. 

In Champagne and Picardy, the catholics prevailed, and 
the protestants were massacred, without mercy; in return 
for the cruelties exercised, by them, in other parts, and for 
the plunder and profanation of the churches. In Touraine, 
the peasants committed every species of depredation; and, 
after tearing out the eyes of a protestant minister, they 
burned him, at a slow fire. 

Such, are the effects of sectarian presumption, and an 
overweening confidence of opinion. Attached to our pre- 
conceptions, averse to a rational examination — without judg- 
ment, without reason, without reflection— we condemn the 
religious tenets of others, whose minds are formed by the 
same creator, as our own. ■>.t 

The taking of Rouen, by the royalists, which was retarded, 
for some time, by a reinforcement of English troops, and is 
computed to have been attended with the destruction of four- 
thousand men, on each side, was followed by the death of 
the king of Navarre; who was mortally wounded, in the 
siege: nor was there a smaller waste of human lives in the 
battle of Dreaux; where the constable Montmorenci, and the 
prince of Conde, fell into the hands of their respective ene- 
mies, after being both wounded and unhorsed. On the cap- 
tivity of the latter, the command of the protestant army, 
was conferred upon the admiral Coligni, (a nephew of Mont- 
morenci,) an officer alike distinguished for his ability and 
valour, and entire devotion to his party. 
- -p.* On the eighth of February, the city of Orleans was 
besieged, by the duke of Guise; and on the nineteenth, 
he was mortally wounded, by an assassin. He survived the 
stroke only six days; during which interval, he displayed 
the most dignified composure, and manly fortitude; which 
justified the representation given of his death, by the catholic 
authors, as worthy of a Christian hero. 

Both parties had been unfortunate, in the loss of officers, 
and both seemed equally inclined to return the sword with- 
in its scabbard. After various conferences, a treaty was, at 
length, concluded. A more limited rule of toleration, was 
now accepted, by the Hugonots. In all fiefs, held directly 
of the crown, the barons and nobility were allowed the pub- 
lic exercise of the protestant religion, for themselves and 



180 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

their vassals. In other fiefs, the proprietors, when they did 
not reside in towns or villages, were allowed the same liberty, 
in their own houses. In the city of Paris, and in all other 
places, not specified, they were prohibited to meet publicly; 
but private liberty of conscience was universally allowed them 

Nothing now remained, for the perfect restoration of 
tranquillity, but the expulsion of the English, from Havre 
de Grace. Elizabeth testified her chagrin at the treaty of 
Orleans, (which had been concluded, with the Hugonots, 
without consulting her, or any other of their allies) by de- 
manding, from France, the restitution of Calais; and de- 
claring, that she was entitled to keep possession of Havre, 
until that important article of the general peace, was ful- 
filled. The French court replied, that a clause, in the same 
treaty, obliged her to commit no act of hostility against 
France, during the space of eight years; at the expiration of 
which time, the restitution of Calais, or a pecuniary redemp 
tion, had been, on that condition, promised. 

On the fifteenth of July, the French troops encamped 
before Havre. The English garrison, commanded by the 
earl of Warwick, consisting of about seven-thousand men, had 
been already thinned, by a pestilential distemper: the heat 
of the weather, and a scarcity of provisions, increased the 
fatal effects of this dreadful disorder, and reduced Warwick 
to the necessity of capitulating, on the honourable condition 
of retiring, with the remainder of his forces; and, in the 
ensuing year, all matters of difference, between the two 
countries, were settled, by^a treaty of peace. 
1 J--- No contentions are so difficult to appease, as dis- 
putes concerning religion. It is a subject, upon which 
there can be no compromise. The king was soon tormented 
with the alternate complaints of catholics and protestants. 
The people of Burgundy objected to the extension of the 
late edict of toleration, to their province. The protestants 
preferred a general complaint of the violent opposition, made, 
in various parts, to its establishment; and of the injurious 
treatment which they experienced. These oppositions were 
not disagreeable, to the court. They were used as a pretext, 
for rendering the late edict palatable to the catholics; and, 
for this purpose, another was passed, in which the liberty of 
the protestants was considerably retrenched. This act of 
-- fir injustice, united with the fear of the Hugonots, on 
account of a recent interview, at Bayonne, between 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 181 

the Spanish and French courts, and others, occasioned by 
the march of the duke of Alva, along the frontiers of France, 
into the Low Countries, accelerated the renewal of civil 
war. The security of the administration, at this period, is 
the more remarkable, as the frequent warnings received by 
them, ought to have put them upon their guard. It is said, 
that Catherine, whose observations were directed chiefly 
towards Coligni's motion, was the more deceived, by the 
report of one of her spies, with respect to the manner in 
which she saw him employed, at Chatillon. Clad in a 
homely frock, with a pruning knife in his hand, the admiral 
had mounted one of the trees in his orchard ; and appeared 
like the peaceful inhabitant of the rural shades, rather than 
one who was then preparing the thunderbolts of war. 

The queen of England deemed this a lit opportunity for 
discovering her inclination to support the Hugonots; and 
renewed her old demand of the restitution of Calais. But, 
to this unexpected request, France refused to accede. A 
bold attempt of the protestant chiefs, to seize the person of 
the king, was viewed as a signal, by the leaders of both 
parties, to collect their forces. The first conflict occurred 
in the plains of St. Dennis; in which, the old constable, 
Montmorenci, received a wound, which caused his death. 
Disdaining to surrender, when required, he dashed the 
pommel of his sword, which was broken, in his adversary's 
Face, and knocked out several of his teeth: when a pistol- 
shot, from behind, gave him a mortal wound, and he fell, 
bleeding, to the ground. At no great distance, and almost 
at the same instant, the prince of Conde's horse being 
wounded, and falling with him, it was with difficulty that 
lie could extricate himself from the surrounding danger. 
The battle was ended by the approach of night. The intre- 

Eid bravery of the prince of Conde's troops, was witnessed 
y the Ottoman ambassador, who had taken his station in an 
adjoining tower; and his surprise was testified, by exclaim- 
ing, "If my master had only two-thousand of these white 
scarfs, at the head of his several armies, the world could not 
stand against him for two years. " 

On the death of Montmorenci, the duke of Anjou, a 
brother of the king, was appointed lieutenant general of 
France. 

1568 ^ ie banners °f °i v ^ discord, which had been in- 
cased bv the peace of Longjumeau, were, soon after- 

0. 



182 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

wards, unfurled. Scarcely three months had elapsed, before 
a disposition was evinced, by the court, to renew the war* 
Catherine, who delighted in fraud and dissimulation, laid a 
plan for seizing the persons of the prince of Conde and the 
admiral, who had retired to their respective estates; but, 
having been warned of their danger, they effected their 
escape, and fled towards Rochelle. 

By the speedy arrival of the queen of Navarre, with her 
infant son, Henry, the foundation of a firmer association 
seemed to be laid, and the protestants prepared for war, 
with more than usual confidence. 

The duke of Anjou's army now consisted of twenty -thou- 
sand foot, and four-thousand horse. The protestants, besides 
the troops in garrison, mustered, in the field, eighteen-thou- 
sand infantry, and three-thousand horse. Though in the 
midst of winter, they took the field, and many brave men 
were killed, in the sieges of Sancerre and St. Michael. 
- - fi p At the opening of the campaign, in the ensuing 
* spring, conspicuous valour was displayed, on both 
sides, in the battle of Jarnac. The gallant Hugonot gene- 
ral, La Noue, having been taken prisoner, his division was 
rallied, by D'Andelot; who, with undaunted courage, ad- 
vanced to the charge. This daring commander, after this 
short exhortation to his men — "Act now, as I do" — was 
seen, immediately, on closing with the enemy, to lay hold 
of the beaver of the duke of Monsalez's helmet, with one 
hand, and, with the other, to discharge a pistol in his face; 
which laid him dead upon the ground. It was then, that a 
courier was despatched, to the prince of Conde, with intel- 
ligence of the situation of the van. That gallant commander 
took the brave but unfortunate resolution of hastening to the 
assistance of the admiral, with a choice body of cavalry, 
while the remainder of his army were directed to follow him, 
with all possible expedition. Just as he was giving orders 
to dash forward, the duke of Rochefoucaud's horse reared, 
and fractured the bone of the prince's leg. Superior to 
pain, with an undaunted countenance — "Remember," said 
he, " nobility of France, that Louis of Bourbon this day 
verifies his motto, and esteems the condition in which he now 
goes to encounter the enemy, for the sake of his religion, of 
you, and of France, a circumstance not unfavourable to his 
renown." — After a charge, that exceeded any of his former 
instances of resolution, he was attacked, in flank, by the 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 185 

duke of Anjou's main body, by which, his slender battalion 
was overwhelmed; when, thrown from his horse, which was 
wounded, and able only to raise himself upon one knee, 
from the ground, he surrendered himself to D'Argens; to 
whom, he delivered his sword. Being placed under a tree, 
Montesquieu, captain of the duke of Anjou's Swiss guard, 
coming up, shot him, through the head, with a pistol: a brutal 
assassination, perpetrated, it is supposed, by the instigation 
of the duke himself. 

The moment the queen of Navarre was informed of the 
event of the battle of Jarnac, she hastened to Cognac, with 
the two Henrys— her son, the prince of Beam, and the young 
Conde — the one fifteen years of age, the other sixteen. — 
The prince of Beam, (afterwards Henry IV.) was now 
declared the head of the protestant party: but, on account 
of his youth, the command was given to Coligni. 

Depressed, by the loss of their intrepid chief, at Jarnac, 
the hopes of the protestants were revived, by the junction 
of the duke of Deux-Ponts, with a formidable army of Ger- 
man auxiliaries; amounting to thirteen-thousand. 

The battle of Montcoulour was the only conflict, of four 
regular engagements, that had now been fought, in which 
the protestants were completely vanquished. The catholic 
army amounted to twenty-seven-thousand; the protestant, 
to eighteen-thousand: Coligni was severely wounded, and 
nearly six-thousand of his soldiers perished in the field. A 
body of catholic Germans, led by the Rhingrave, endeavoured 
to break his line of foot. Coligni led on some French ar- 
quebuseers, to the charge. The Rhingrave turned, and faced 
him, and both of them advancing nearly thirty paces before 
their troops, discharged, at the same instant, their pistols, 
at each- other. The admiral's jaw was shattered, by his 
opponent's shot, while his own laid his adversary dead upon 
the ground; and he concealed the hurt he had received, until, 
being almost suffocated, by the blood, he allowed himself to 
be led oft' the field. 

It was the peculiar character of Coligni, that he acquired 
fresh fortitude, in adversity; and, that his spirit became 
emboldened, in proportion to the increase of danger. He 
immediately sent off despatches to England, to the protes- 
tant princes in Germany, and to the Swiss cantons; which, 
while they lessened the amount of his disasters, implied a 
want of assistance. It was resolved to garrison the three 



184 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

towns of Niort, Angouleme, and St. Jean D'Angeli; and the 
chief commanders conducted the two young princes, with 
the remains of the army, to Rochelle. 

-tz~Q Disappointed of fixing his head-quarters in Gui- 
enne, the admiral undertook, in the midst of winter, 
to traverse the kingdom, by a march from Montauban, 
through Languedoc, to the mouth of the Rhone; and thence, 
along the course of that river, and of the Saone, to the en- 
trance of Burgundy, and the head of the Seine; and, after 
pillaging fifty, and burning a hundred places, in a march of 
more than four-hundred French leagues, his army being 
reduced to fewer than five-thousand men, yet, with this 
small number he forced peace to themselves and to France, 
by defeating the marshal De Cosse, at Arnay-le-Duc, with 
thirteen-thousand. 

A treaty was concluded, in the month of August, at St. 
Germain-en-Laye. Besides the public exercise of the pro- 
testant religion, unconfined by any restrictions, protestants 
were to be admitted into all employments and dignities, 
civil and military; and, in any process before the provincial 
parliament, were to have the privilege of excepting, without 
adducing any reason, against a certain number of judges, in 
each chamber. But, what distinguished this treaty of paci- 
fication, from every preceding edict, was, the assignment of 
the four cities of Rochelle, Cognac, Montauban, and La 
C ha rite, to the protestants; to be held by them, for the se- 
curity and fulfilment of the articles of peace, for two years. 
Such, was the conclusion of the third civil war, and the 
nature of the peace, obtained by the firmness of the pro- 
testants. 

Soon after this peace, Charles united himself to the arch- 
dutchess Elizabeth, daughter of the emperor, Maximilian 
the Second; an amiable princess; who, with the hand, 
obtained not the heart of her royal consort; which had been 
long engaged to his mistress, the beautiful Mary Touchet. 

The advantageous terms of the treaty, and the solemn 
professions, made by Catherine and Charles, to maintain it 
inviolably, did not soon throw the protestant leaders off their 
guard. Experience had taught them circumspection. They 
did not hope to find security, where they had so often founcl 
deceit. They kept together, in a body, and chose Rochelle 
as a place of retreat. But the king appeared peculiarly 
anxious to remove every subject of discontent, When intel* 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 185 

ligence was received, that the protestants, at Rouen, had 
been attacked, by the soldiers, as thej were going to their 
place of worship, Charles directly proceeded to punish the 
offenders. 

Of the sincerity of these proceedings, the proposed mar- 
riage of the king's sister, with Henry, the young king of 
Navarre, (formerly the prince of Beam) and the alleged 
design of entering into a war with Spain, seemed to afford 

f)lain and incontestable evidence. Charles, indeed, express- 
y declared, that he bestowed his sister to the king of 
Navarre, with a view to render the connubial tie a general 
bond, to attach all the Hugonots to his government, and to 
banish their apprehensions concerning the immutability of 
his pacific edicts. 

In consequence of this nuptial contract, and a connexion 
which Charles affected to enter into with England, when 
queen Elizabeth was solicited to marry the duke of Anjou, 
the intercourse of the protestant chiefs with the court, became 
more unreserved and frequent. The admiral, the king always 
addressed by the endearing appellation of father: and one- 
hundred-thousand livres were assigned him, as an indemnifi- 
cation for his losses, in the late war*.' — " Have I not," said 
Charles, " acted my part well?" — "Admirably," replied 
his mother: " you have begun, but you must continue, to the 
end." — " I will not stop," returned Charles, " until I bring 
them all into the toils." 

- - 79 The net was almost ready to be drawn. The mar- 
riage of the king of Navarre, with Margaret of Valois, 
was, at length, completed; and, according to agreement, 
was neither wholly in the catholic, nor the protestant form. 
For several days, there was given a variety of magnificent 
entertainments. The dark designs of Catherine and Charles 
were now brought to a crisis. Their scheme of alluring the 
principal leaders of the protestants to Paris, had, by means 
of the nuptials, and the delusion of the admiral, succeeded, 
almost beyond their hopes. Above seven-hundred of the 
nobility and gentry of that persuasion, the flower of their 
chieftains, were now lodged in the city or suburbs, disarmed 
and unprepared. 

The assassination of Coligni, was the first stroke of ven- 
geance resolved on, by the detestable junto of Catherine and 

* A livre is equal in value to about eighteen cents. 

Q2 



186 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

her son: and its execution was assigned to the duke of Guise. 
The admiral, on his return from the Louvre, to his own 
apartments, had to pass by the cloister of the church of St. 
Germain L'Auxerrois. At this place, within the house of 
Ville-Mar, who had been preceptor to the duke of Guise, 
Mau revel, the assassin employed by the duke, had taken his 
station $ and, in the morning of the twenty-second of August, 
as the admiral passed the house, at a slow pace, (being en- 
gaged in reading a paper that had been presented to him, on 
the way) Maurevel fired his arquebuss at him, loaded with 
two bullets; one of which tore a finger off his right hand, 
and the other lodged deep in his left arm. 

The general massacre of the protestants, which had been 
long meditated, by the court, was fixed for the twenty- 
fourth; which was the feast of St. Bartholomew; and the 
duke of Guise was again called upon, to act his part. The 
great bell at the palace was to be sounded, as a signal to 
begin. But Charles paused, for a moment, in this work of 
blood. As the fatal hour drew near, he is said to have been 
goaded by the stings of remorse; and to have betrayed such 
fear and irresolution, that all the art of his mother was re- 
quired, to extort from him an order for the assassins to com- 
mence: overcome, however, by her importunities, and her 
impious exhortations, his eyes glared with rage, and he pro- 
nounced the horrid mandate, " Go on, and let none remain, 
to reproach me with the deed." 

The duke of Guise immediately issued forth, to perpetrate 
the murder of Coligni. The clamour, which had been faintly 
heard, at first, having increased, and several shots having 
been fired, under his window, the admiral arose from his 
bed, and covered himself with his nidit-gown; when he was 
soon convinced, by his attendants, who hurried to his cham- 
ber, that the worst was to be feared. The pale looks and 
trembling gestures of his domestics, announced the immediate 
fate that they expected.— ■" This instant," — exclaimed one 
of them — "God calls us, to meet our death." — "It is 
enough," said Coligni, "that I know it." — He leaned, for 
some moments, against the wall, in prayer; then, with a 
countenance undismayed, — " Away," said he, " my friends; 
save yourselves, if possible: let not your unprofitable stay 
be mourned by your wives and children. " — In a few minutes, 
the door was burst open, and seven armed ruffians entered 
the apartment. Besme, a German, stepped before the rest, 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 187 

and, flourishing his sword, exclaimed, "Art thou Coligni r" 
"I am," replied the admiral, with a steady voice and firm 
countenance; " and you, young soldier, ought to respect my 
gray hairs. But, come on," continued he, to Besme, "do 
what thou wilt, thou canst shorten my life but little." — At 
that instant, he received the villain's sword in his breast; 
which rather courted, than shunned the blow; and yielded 
up his life, without a groan. — Immediately, the alarm-bell 
was rung, and the populace were roused to spread the mas- 
sacre. Many nobles, of distinguished valour, were soon 
despatched. The king of Navarre and prince of Conde, 
were awakened, by a band of soldiers, who, rushing into 
their chamber, in the palace, rudely commanded them to 
dress themselves, and attend the king, unarmed. — " I pardon 
you," exclaimed the infuriated, Charles, " on this condition, 
that you instantly renounce that impious faith, which contra- 
dicts mine, and teaches you to insult my sovereign power." 
The king of Navarre's renunciation was given, in a low, 
embarrassed voice; but the prince of Conde boldly express- 
ed his indignation, and declared, that the fear of death 
should never render him an apostate. 

For three days, the massacre was continued, in the city, 
with unabated fury; during which, six-thousand protestants, 
of whom five-hundred were nobility, fell a sacrifice to re- 
ligious intolerance. But this horrid tragedy was not confined 
to Paris. At Meaux, Orleans, Troyes, Lyons, Bourges, 
Rouen, and Toulouse, and many other places, the cruelty 
of the Parisians was emulated, and thirty-thousand persons 
were murdered, in cold blood. 

To the count of Charnay, it was owing, that only one pro- 
testant was killed in Burgundy. But the answer," made by 
the viscount D'Ortez, governor of Bayonne, to Charles, who 
had written a private letter to him, is worthy of particular 
notice: "You must not, on this point, expect obedience 
from me. I have signified the orders, sent by your majesty, 
to the inhabitants of the town, and the troops in the garrison; 
and I found them ready to act like good citizens, and brave 
soldiers, but not one hangman amongst them all." 

The court now believed that they had effected the total 
extinction of the protestant party. But they were soon 
made sensible of their error. Though massacre had di- 
minished their number, persecution served to invigorate their 



188 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

spirit. The royal army gathered no laurels, in the war that 
immediately ensued; while the Hugonots seemed fearless of 
death, in every shape, and displayed extraordinary feats of 
gallantry and valour. At the siege of Dumfront, one of 
their officers having received a shot in his head, which de- 
prived him of speech, he went into the nearest tent, and 
made a sign that he wished for pen and paper; and, sitting 
down, to write a letter to his mistress, with his blood, he 
died, the moment it was finished. Colombiere, to whom 
the defence of that place had been committed, having been 
urged to surrender, in order to avoid the slaughter of a 
general assault — "I shall teach my companions," said he, 
"how they ought to die;" and, accordingly, he took his 
station in the middle of the breach, now seventy paces in 
length, with his two sons, one on each side of him; the elder 
being twelve, the younger ten years old. — "In yielding my 
life, to God," said he, to those around him, "I, at the same 
time, offer to him, what I hold dearest in the world. It is 
better for them to die, undishonoured and uncorrupted, with 
their father, than to fall into the hands of those who may 
pervert them."-— A ball having pierced his head, he soon 
Fell, and the breach was abandoned, by his followers; but 
compassion moved the catholic soldiers, to save the lives of 
his forlorn offspring. 

- -«,. The king had, for a considerable time, been afflict- 
ed with a most painful disorder. There now ap- 
peared unequivocal symptoms of approaching death. The 
conflict between his youthful strength, and the fatal power 
of his disease, threw him into convulsions; during which, the 
blood issued through the pores, in almost every part of his 
body; and, after, it is said, expressing the deepest remorse 
for the massacre of St. Bartholomew, and other acts of vio- 
lence, to which he had been instigated by his mother, he ex- 
pired, in the twenty-fifth year of his age, and the fourteenth 
of his reign. 

He was entombed, with little ceremony; and, before the 
funeral convoy reached St. Dennis, it was deserted by all 
the followers, except Brantome, and four other gentlemen 
of the bed-chamber, and the guard of archers. 

Charles had a taste for the fine arts; which appears in- 
compatible with the cruelty and moroseness of his temper. 
Besides rewarding the genius of the poet Rousard, he wrote 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 189 

verses in his praise, not inferior to those of the master that 
he had admired ; and also composed a book, on his favourite 
amusement of the chase. 

He caused a smith's forge to be erected, in his palace; 
where he amused himself with the fabrication of gun-barrels, 
horse-chains, and other pieces of smith's work. He piqued 
himself, on his talent of imitating, with the greatest nicety, 
the various coins in circulation, such as the crown, the double 
ducat, and the testoon. When he showed one of these to 
the cardinal Lorraine, for his approbation, « Ah, Sir," said 
the prelate, "you can do whatever you please — you always 
carry your pardon in your own pocket." 

In the last year of the reign of Charles IX., the revenues 
did not amount to nine millions of livres. 

HENRY III. 

1574—1589. 

Not having had any male issue, Charles was succeeded by 
his next brother, the duke of Anjou, who now returned from 
Poland; to the throne of which kingdom, he had been elected, 
in the preceding year. 

In his early youth, Henry had displayed uncommon abili- 
ties: his manners were insinuating, his person graceful, his 
countenance beautiful; and the people regarded, with the 
most partial anticipation, the hero of Jarnac and Moncontour. 
He was now in his twenty-third year. But his unbecoming 
deportment, as a king, but ill corresponded with his firmness 
in the field; and his subjects soon discovered a monarch, 
irresolute, inconstant, indolent, and voluptuous, mingling 
devotion with sensuality, and alternately governed by the 
licentious minions of his court, and by bigoted priests, who 
assumed the direction of his conscience. 

•He established fraternities of penitents, in the South, dis- 
tinguished from each other, by the colours of white, blue, 
and black; and has been seen assisting, barefooted, at their 
processions, his body covered with sackcloth, and his head 
masked in a capouch. 

One of his earliest resolutions, was to prosecute the war 
against the Hugonots. The marshal D'Ainville, brother of 
Montmorenci, informed of his determination, boldly erected 
the standard of opposition, and supported, in Languedoc, 
the principles of Calvin: and the prince of Conde, together 



190 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

with the king of Navarre, (who now abjured the catholic 
religion) joined the forces of the confederates; while the 
duke of Alencon, presumptive heir to the crown, inflamed 
by a wild ambition, deserted the court, and armed against 
his brother. But, the peace which Henry was, in conse- 
1576 ( l uence ' forced to subscribe, he was not long allowed 

to observe. Irritated by the favourable conditions 
granted to the Calvinists, the Roman Catholics formed 
themselves into a combination, called the Holy League; and 
chose, for their protectors, the pope, and the king of Spain. 
Though sensible of the degradation, Henry declared himself 
the head of this confederacy; and, by the importunity of the 
leaguers, was soon compelled to rescind the late edict of 
pacification. 
- - fil Open hostilities between the two religious sects, 

were repeatedly suspended, by treaties; which, as 
they were made without faith, were broken without hesita- 
tion. Nor was it alone in France, that religious rancour 
had kindled the flames of civil war. They burned, with not 
less violence, in the Netherlands; where the unrelenting 
Philip, seconded by the congenial inclinations of the duke 
of Alva, had consigned numbers of his Flemish subjects to 
exile, torture, and a cruel death. The retreat of the duke 
of Orange into Germany, induced them to invite, to their 
assistance, the duke of Anjou; who repaid the honour con- 
ferred upon him, by the most signal acts of treachery and 
desertion. 

-- ft4 The death of the duke of Anjou disconcerted, but 
' did not extinguish, the daring projects of the house 
of Lorraine. The three brothers, the duke and cardinal of 
Guise, and the duke of Mayenne, openly placed themselves 
at the head of the league; and, inflaming the people with the 
dread of an heretical sovereign, avowed their resolution to 
transfer the pretences of the king of Navarre, now presump- 
tive heir of the throne, to his uncle, the cardinal of Bourbon, 
a zealous catholic; but who, incapable, from age and in- 
firmities, of holding the reins of government himself, was to 
deliver them into the hands of the duke of Guise. A coun- 
cil of sixteen citizens of Paris, nominated by the duke, 
insulted their sovereign, and filled the streets with confusion. 
D'Ainville, who, by the death of his brother, had become 
marshal Montmorenci, assuming, in Languedoc, a tone of 
independence, declared himself the head of a third party, 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 191 

attached to the ancient constitution, in church and state; 
and the king's favourite, the duke of Joyeuse, accompanied 
by the flower of the French nobility, was defeated and slain, 
by the king of Navarre's troops, at Coutras. 
- - ft7 The prince of Conde soon afterwards expired, at 
' St. Jean D'Angeli, in consequence of poison; the 
administering of which, was imputed to his consort, whose 
innocence was, however, vindicated, by a public trial. 
1 - 88 Henry at length determined upon the death of the 
duke of Guise. Grillon, who commanded the royal 
guards, was first solicited, to strike the fatal blow; but, witli 
a dignity of mind, equal to his valour, he replied, that his 
rank and office allowed him not to play the executioner. 
" I will challenge the duke," continued he, " and, if permit- 
ted, endeavour to kill him, fairly, with my sword." But 
the king's purpose was not changed, by this refusal. He 
fixed upon Loignac, the first gentleman of his bed-chamber; 
who readily accepted the commission, and was joined by a 
select number of Gascons, who had been introduced for the 
immediate protection of the king's person. As the duke 
entered the cabinet of the king, through a long and gloomy 
passage, he was assailed, by their numerous daggers: six 
poniards were plunged, at once, into his bosom, and, ex- 
claiming, with a deep groan, " My God, have mercy on 
me," he fell, breathless, upon the floor. 

His brother, the cardinal of Guise, was involved in his 
destruction; and Catherine soon afterwards died, of a severe 
indisposition, in the seventieth year of her age; exhorting 
Henry, in her last moments, to reconcile himself to the 
princes of his blood, particularly to the king of Navarre; 
and to restore the tranquility of France, by allowing a free 
exercise of the protestant religion. 

The king was soon convinced how necessary it was to 
adopt the dying councils of his mother. After the murder 
of the Guises, the crowd that attended him to Blois, hastily 
dispersed; the multitude abhorred him; the majority of his 
nobles combined against him; and the clergy publicly re- 
viled him. All zealous catholics were armed against him; 
the doctors of the Sorbonne absolved his subjects from their 
allegiance; the duke of Mayenne, brother to the late duke 
of Guise, was appointed lieutenant general of France; while 
pope Sixtus V. fulminated his thunders against the assassins 



192 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

of the latter, and involved the king in the sentence of ex- 
communication. 

j^gQ But, a ray of hope broke in upon Henry, from the 
attachment of the princes of the blood: a reconci- 
liation was effected with the king of Navarre; and, on the 
last day of July, after a series of brilliant achievements, 
they invested the capital of France. 

Paris must soon have been compelled to acknowledge the 
authority of her sovereign, had not the punishment which 
the citizens had so long provoked, been arrested, by the 
dagger of an assassin. 

James Clement, a Jacobin friar, of strong passions, but 
weak intellects, had readily listened to the treasonable dis- 
courses, daily thundered, by the popular preachers, from 
their pulpits; and, perhaps incited by persons of superior 
rank, he determined, at one murderous stroke, to extinguish 
the enemy of the pope, and of the catholic religion. With 
a passport, procured under false pretences, and a letter, 
forged by president Harlay, at that time confined in the Bas- 
tile, he set out, from Paris, for St. Cloud, the royal quarters: 
on the road, he met the attorney general, and, informing him 
that he had some important intelligence, to communicate to 
the king, in person, that officer engaged to procure him an 
audience of Henry. The next morning, he was accordingly 
introduced to the king, to whom he presented his letters; 
but, while Henry was occupied in their perusal, Clement 
suddenly plunged a knife, that he had concealed in his 
sleeve, into the body of his unhappy sovereign. The wound- 
ed monarch instantly drew it out, and twice struck with it, 
at the assassin; the attorney general, with a blow of his 
sword, extended him upon the floor, and the royal guards 
immediately despatched him. 

Repeated faintings soon advised the king of his approach- 
ing end; and he prepared to meet it, with a fortitude and 
composure, worthy of his exalted station. He summoned, 
to his presence, the king of Navarre; whom he tenderly 
embraced, and declared his lawful successor; and expired, 
the next morning, in the sixteenth year of his reign, and the 
thirty-ninth of his age. 

In him, was finally extinguished the house of Valois; after 
having reigned two-hundred-and-sixty-one years. 

The reign of Henry III., though turbulent, produced, 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 193 

nevertheless, some advantage to the nation. Impoverished 
by luxury, the nobles were desirous of selling a part, or 
sometimes the whole of their lands; and the commons, en- 
riched by the gradual progress of commerce and industry, 
obtained, at this time, the privilege of purchasing their 
estates, but without their titles, or any feudal jurisdiction. 
Thus, a great part of the lands of the kingdom passed into 
the hands of the commons, without transferring, to them, 
the dangerous power of the aristocracy; a circumstance 
equally advantageous to the crown, and beneficial to the 
people. 

It was in this reign, that post-offices were first established, 
by royal authority, in France. The university of Paris, 
being formerly the only great seminary of learning, in the 
kingdom, and having a great number of students resorting 
to it, from every part of the country; for their convenience, 
employed regular messengers, whose business was not only 
to bring, for them, clothes, silver, and gold, but likewise 
to carry bags of law-proceedings, informations, and in- 
quests; to conduct all sorts of persons, indifferently, to and 
from Paris; find them both horses and diet; and carry 
letters and parcels for the public. The university never 
had any fund or support, except that arising from the post- 
office. In the year 1576, the Icing appointed messengers to 
travel over the same routes, with the same rights and privi- 
leges as his predecessors had granted to the university of 
Paris; which at length engrossed the whole business of the 
kingdom. 

HENRY IV. 

1589—1610. 

This prince, now in his thirty-fifth year, was descended 
from Robert, count of Clermont, the sixth son of Louis IX. 
Robert had married the heiress of the barony of Bourbon; 
and the crown devolved, by legitimate succession, upon his 
descendant, Henry IV., after having been possessed, by the 
elder branches of the family of Capet, three -hundred-and- 
twenty years. 

But, with the right, Henry can not be said, at this time, 
to have enjoyed the possession, of the crown. He was, in- 
deed, at the head of a numerous army; but the greater part 
R 



194 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

of his troops, as well as of his subjects, were catholics; his 
capital was in the hands of a faction, formidable by their 
numbers, and daring in their designs; his treasury was 
empty; the most fertile provinces of France, acknowledged 
the authority of the league: and, though aided by the constant 
friendship of Elizabeth, he was opposed, with inveterate 
hostility, by Philip, as much the enemy of the protestant, 
as the queen of England of the catholic religion. 

It is not our intention, to attempt even a faint outline of 
the long series of military operations, by which the first 
nine years of this memorable reign, were distinguished. 
Enough has already been detailed, in the preceding reign. 
Aided by the young Coligni, the prince of Conti, Mont- 
morenci, and other officers of merit, and opposed by the 
duke of Mayenne, his nephew the duke of Guise, marshal 
Biron, count de Brissac, and many more active command- 
ers, amongst the French nobility, Henry showed himself 
less politic and skilful, than active and valiant, in the field* 
Too readily extending his clemency to leaders, by whom 
he had been most violently opposed, and not unfrequently 
betrayed, he thus cherished a rebellion, which a monarch 
of less splendid talents, but of better judgment, would 
easily have crushed: and, while he forgave the treason of 
one perfidious noble, he encouraged others to prolong the 
bloody contest, until all hopes of their success had vanished, 
and thousands of his devoted subjects had fallen, to rise no 
more. 

The duke of Mayenne assumed the supreme administra- 
tion of affairs, at Paris, and proclaimed, as king, the car- 
dinal of Bourbon; then, a prisoner to Henry, under the 
title of Charles X. But, in the following year, this compe- 
titor sunk into the grave; expressing, in his last moments, 
his regard for his successful rival, and consciousness of the 
interested views of those who had tried to elevate himself 
to the throne. 

The king's forces were still less numerous than those of 
the league; but the deficiency in their number was compen- 
sated by their valour. He attacked the duke of Mayenne, 
at Ivri, and gained a complete victory over him, though 
supported by a select body of Spanish troops. Henry's be- 
haviour, on this occasion, was truly heroic. " My lads," 
said he, to his soldiers, "if you should lose sight of your 






HISTORY OF FRANCE. 195 

colours, rally towards this," — pointing to a large white 
plume, worn by him, in his hat: — " you will always find 
that in the road to honour." 

ixqr. The progress of the Spanish arms, though directed 
by the great genius of the prince of Parma, had yet 
been attended by no permanent advantage; and Philip 
now endeavoured to secure, in his family, the crown 01 
France, the chief object of his ambition. He had prevailed 
upon the duke of Mayenne, to assemble the states, at Paris; 
and the duke of Feria, the Spanish ambassador, endeavoured 
to persuade the deputies, to place, upon the throne, Isabella, 
the daughter of his royal master, as the nearest relative of 
Henry III. But, while the king of Spain and the catholic 
chiefs, were bewildered in a labyrinth of negotiations, both 
were surprised, by an event, as important, as it was unex- 
pected. Henry had beheld, with anxiety, the assembly of 
the states, and dreaded the intrigues of the duke of Mayenne, 
with the court of Spain. The most distinguished of the 
protestant leaders, and his favourite Rosni, afterwards bet- 
ter known by the title of duke of Sully, exhorted him to 
consult the happiness of his subjects, and to relinquish a 
faith, which he could maintain only amidst scenes of blood 
and devastation. In consequence of this advice, Henry 
heard mass at St. Dennis, read aloud his confession of the 
catholic faith, and declared his resolution constantly to 
maintain and defend it. But, though Sully, always attentive 
to the interests of the kingdom, had prevailed upon his mas- 
ter to become a catholic, to please his catholic subjects of 
France, yet when solicited himself to abandon the protest- 
ant tenets, he firmly refused; and replied to the pope, who 
artfully pressed him to enter upon the right way — '« I never 
shall cease to pray for the conversion of your holiness." 

The tergiversation of Henry, while it alienated the con- 
fidence of the protestants, did not ensure the submission of 
his catholic subjects. The elements of civil commotion, 
continued to be excited, by the court of Rome. Clement 
VIII. refused to admit the ambassadors of Henry, or to re- 
lieve him from the sentence of excommunication. Alarmed 
at the intelligence, that the king had entered the pale of the 
catholic church, the duke of Mayenne and the Spanish mi- 
nisters resumed their intrigues, with redoubled vigour. 
They represented his sudden change of religion, as a politic 
device, to defeat the election of a catholic prince; and per- 



1 06 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

suaded a number of their adherents to swear, that they 
Would not acknowledge Henry, as their king, until his con- 
version was ratified, by the pope. A happy incident, how- 
i "04 ever ? S0(m occurred, in favour of the king. Sum- 
moned, by the disorders of Picardy, to that province, 
the duke of Mayenne intrusted the government of Paris to 
the count de Brissac; who immediately entered into a nego- 
tiation with Henry, and agreed to admit the royal troops. 
While the Spanish were amused, by the arts of Brissac, 
one of the gates was opened to Henry and his army; who 
instantly took possession of the principal squares and streets. 
The Parisians received their sovereign with loud acclama- 
tions; the troops maintained the most exact discipline; and, 
amidst the revolution, the city bore the appearance of secu- 
rity and peace. 

The daily return of his subjects to their allegiance, and 
the declining state of the league, inspired Henry with more 
vigorous councils. He publicly declared war against Spain, 
and entered into a treaty of alliance with the revolted in- 
habitants of the Spanish Netherlands; who, by the treaty 
of Utrecht, had laid the foundation of a free republic, under 
the title of the United Provinces. 

Meanwhile, the enemies of Henry resolved to assail his 
life. When stooping, to embrace a nobleman who was pre- 
sented to him, in his apartments of the Louvre, he received 
a stroke, from a knife, that cut his lip, and broke one of his 
teeth. The assassin was immediately seized. His name 
was John Chatel, a student of the college of the Jesuits; to 
the influence of whose doctrines, he attributed his atrocious 
attempt. He confessed, that, as Henry had not yet been 
absolved by the pope, he thought he might kill him, with a 
safe conscience. Chatel was instantly consigned to the 
punishment due to his crime; and the whole order of the 
Jesuits, were commanded, on the penalty of death, to quit 
the kingdom of France; an edict, which, ten years after- 
wards, was revoked. 

The absolution subsequently granted, to Henry, by the 
pope, and the consequent submission of the duke of May- 
enne, were important circumstances, in favour of the royal 
authority; but the advantages arising from these, were partly 
1 50fi counterbalanced by the loss of Calais, and soon 
afterwards of Amiens; both places having been taken 
by the Spanish troops, Amiens, the capital of Picardy, had 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 197 

but lately submitted to the king of France; and the citizens, 
together with their ancient privileges, had obtained an ex- 
emption from being garrisoned by regular troops. Of fifteen- 
thousand inhabitants, who were enrolled, only a few were 
employed as sentinels and guards; and even these performed 
their duty in the most negligent manner. Their remissness 
had not escaped the knowledge of Portocarrero, the Spanish 
governor of Dourlens; an officer brave and enterprising; and 
who, encouraged by the vicinity of his situation, planned a 
scheme for surprising Amiens. With three-thousand horse 
and foot, he marched from Dourlens; and, concealed by the 
darkness of the night, reached, at dawn, a hermitage, distant 
from that city, about a quarter of a mile. Twelve of his 
most resolute soldiers, disguised as peasants, and with arms 
beneath their frocks, were sent forward, as soon as the gates 
were opened; some nuts which they carried, and affected 
accidentally to spill, amused the guards; a wagon which 
they had driven, and intentionally stopped in the gate-way, 
prevented the portcullis from being lowered: they fell, with 
fury, upon the astonished sentinels, and were soon sup- 
ported by Portocarrero and his troops, who rushed forward 
to join them; and, after a feeble resistance, Amiens submit- 
ted to the Spanish arms. 

The loss of a city, so strong, so well provided, and so near 
to Paris, struck Henry with consternation. He determined 
to postpone every other project, to the recovery of Amiens. 
The abilities of Sully, to whom Henry had submitted the 
regulation of the finances, surmounted every obstacle, and 
replenished his exhausted treasury: Henry himself joined 
the blockading army, Portocarrero was killed, in a des- 
perate sally, and that city soon afterwards surrendered to 
the French. 

1598 ^ ie recovei 7 °f Amiens, and the extinction of the 
league, discovered, to Philip, the vanity of those 
flattering dreams of conquest, by which he had been so long 
deluded. His advanced age, and broken health, warned 
him of his approaching end; and he was unwilling to leave 
his inexperienced successor, involved in a dangerous war. 
Nor was peace less desirable to Henry. The mediation of 
Clement was accepted; a congress was held, by the pleni- 
potentiaries of France and Spain, at Vervins, a town of 
Picardy; and, after difficulties, which the zeal of Clement 
was successfully employed in removing, a treaty of peace 
r 2 



198 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

was signed; by which, Henry obtained restitution of Calais, 
and all the towns of France, acquired, by Philip, with so 
much blood and treasure. 

No kingdom could be more wretched than France, at the 
peace of Vervins. The crown was loaded with debts and 
pensions; the country was barren and desolated; the people 
poor and miserable; and the nobles, from a long habit of re- 
bellion, rapine, and disorder, had lost nearly all sense of 
justice, or allegiance. Happily, France was favoured with 
a king, equally capable and willing to remedy these evils. 
But he stood in need of an able and upright minister, with 
whom he might consult, on the most important matters of 
state; and such an assistant he found in de Rosni; whom, to 
add weight to his measures, he created duke of Sully. 

This nobleman seemed formed to be the minister of 
Henry IV. Alike brave in the field, and penetrating in the 
cabinet, he was more cool and persevering than the king 
himself, whose volatility and quickness of thought, did not 
permit him to attend long to any one object By his prudent 
measures, Sully paid, in the space of five years, all the debts 
of the crown; augmented the annual revenue four-millions 
of livres, and had four-millions in the treasury, though he 
had considerably reduced the taxes. 

Previous to the peace of Vervins, Henry had endeavoured 
to secure the tranquility of the protestants, by the celebrated 
edict of Nantz. It granted, to the reformed, all the favours 
in which they had been indulged by former princes; and 
added a free admission to all employments of trust, profit, 
and honour; also, an establishment of chambers of justice, 
in which the members of the two religions were equal in 
number; and permission to educate their children, in any of 
the universities, without restraint. 

Tranquility and peace were thus restored, to his people; 
but jealousy and discord prevailed within his palace. Pre- 
vious to the massacre of St. Bartholomew, it may be re- 
membered, he had formed a politic union with Margaret, 
sister of Henry III. ; a princess who united all the opposite 
qualities of the family of Valois, from which she sprung. The 
beauty of her .person inspired passion, in the coldest bosom; 
her genius and imagination were celebrated by all the poets 
of her time; she sung and played on the lute, with exquisite 
skill; and, in dancing, no lady of the court was her equal: 
but, so violent was her love of pleasure, that, at a very early 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 199 

age, she had sacrificed to it her honour; the duke of Guise, 
and several other noblemen, had been admitted to her most 
intimate favours, previous to her marriage with Henry; and 
her hours were afterwards alternately occupied with unbridled 
sensuality and enthusiastic devotion. 

But, she had never been able to touch the heart of Henry; 
to whom, indeed, her irregularities, before marriage, were 
not unknown. Nor was he himself exempt from reproaches, 
from similar habits of deviation. He had early engaged in 
a variety of promiscuous amours; but, for some time past, 
his unlimited homage was paid to the fair Gabrielle D'Estrees; 
upon whom, he had successively conferred the titles of 
marchioness of Monceaux, and dutchess of Beaufort. Two 
sons were the fruits of this illicit commerce; and Henry, 
desirous of establishing, in his offspring, the peaceable suc- 
cession of the crown, even entertained thoughts of legitima- 
ting his natural children, and dividing the throne with the 
mistress of his affections. 

15 qq The pope had already consented to the dissolution 
of his marriage; yet, both Margaret and Clement 
expressed their most pointed dissatisfaction, when informed 
that the dutchess of Beaufort was intended to occupy her 
place: but, while the dutchess was feasting her imagination, 
with the grandeur of a royal crown, the visionary prospect 
was dissolved, by the hand of death. 

As the effect of restraint, Clement had dissolved the con- 
nubial tie, which united Margaret to the king: but Henry 
was diverted from the immediate thoughts of a second mar- 
riage, by a passion for Henrietta de Balzac, daughter of 
Mary Touchet, the celebrated mistress of Charles IX. ; to 
which lady, created marchioness of Verneuil, Henry trans- 
ferred that affection, which he had so lately vowed to the 
dutchess of Beaufort. 

That artful wanton had obtained from him a promise of 
marriage, before she would crown his wishes. He showed 
the written obligation to Sully, when ready to be delivered; 
and this faithful servant, transported with zeal for his 
master's honour, tore it to pieces. ~- 4 « I believe you are be- 
come a fool," said Henry. — « 1 know it," replied Sully; 
"and wish I were the only fool in France." 

But the remonstrances of his ministers, and his concern 
for the public welfare, had reluctantly extorted from him 
permission to negotiate a union with Mary de Medicis, 



200 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

1600 n * ece *° tne g ran d duke of Tuscany. His own ho- 
nour, and the happiness of his people, allowed him 
not to retract: he hastened to Lyons, to receive the hand of 
Mary; and, whatever might be his private feelings, he dis- 
covered to his royal consort, no emotions but those of res- 
pect and regard. 

Though Henry devoted so much of his time to the female 
sex, yet the administration of his kingdom obtained his un- 
wearied attention. By the integrity and industry of the 
duke of Sully, regularity was introduced into the finances, 
new manufactures were established, new colonies planted, 
commerce was extended, and agriculture restored : the rage 
of duelling was, at the same time, restrained, by new edicts; 
but, it could not be disguised, that the king, educated in 
camps, and impressed with lively notions of honour, often 
sanctioned by his expressions, the practice which his laws 
were intended to suppress. 

jg g In this year, Henry experienced two narrow es- 
capes from death, An unfortunate wretch, whom 
insanity had impelled against his life, was disarmed, by his 
attendants. In crossing the river Neuilly, the royal car- 
riage, by the spirit of the horses, was precipitated from the 
ferry-boat, and overturned, in the middle of the stream; when 
the king, the queen, the duke of Vendome, and the princess 
of Conti, were exposed to most imminent danger; but were 
rescued, by the zeal and alacrity of their retinue; and Henry 
himself, after safely gaining the shore, plunged again into 
the river, to extricate the queen. 

lfi07 But, while the multitude exulted at the safety of 
their sovereign, the royal bosom was doomed to be 
afflicted with those cares, which invade alike the habitation 
of the peasant and the prince. Cold and reserved in her 
temper and manner, the queen received, with indifference, 
the attention of her husband. The happiness which Henry 
found not in the company and conversation of his queen, 
he sought in the society of others. The arrogance of the 
marchioness of Verneuil, had, for some time past, been in- 
sufferable: the lively wit and amiable manners of Charlotte 
Montmorenci, a daughter of the constable, had insensibly 
kindled the fire of love within his heart. Neither time nor 
ambition, religion nor morality, could extinguish this fatal 
flame: he determined to bestow her hand upon the prince 
of Conde; and, by introducing her into his own family, to 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 201 

enjoy, at leas.t, the pleasure of her conversation. The mar- 
riage was celebrated at Chantilli; and drew forth an ex- 
pression from the marchioness of Verneuil, that "the king 
had made this match, to sink the heart, and raise the head, 
of the prince of CondeV' The passion of Henry soon 
burst the bounds that his prudence had prescribed. The 
prince desired leave to retire from court; and the peremp- 
tory refusal of the king, served only to confirm his suspicions 
and, after giving way to his indignation, by the most pointed 
reproaches, he secretly prepared to escape, with the princess, 
beyond t\ e limits of the kingdom, before the ungovernable 
passion of Henry had sealed his dishonour. 

This design, he executed, with success. Reluctantly ac- 
companied by his wife, he eluded the vigilance of those who 
had been sent to observe him, and reached Landrecy. The 
king immediately despatched the captain of his guards, to 
demand the fugitives, from the archduke; but Albert re- 
plied, that "he had never yet violated the law of nations, 
and that he would not begin with a prince royal of France. " 
He immediately supplied the necessities of the prince of 
Conde, appointed an escort, to conduct him to Brussels, 
and assured him of his constant protection. 
1G10 ^' ie k" 1 ^ made an unsuccessful attempt, to carry 
oft' the princess, by force. The armaments, before 
suggested by ambition, were probably now hastened by 
love. England, the independent principalities of Germany, 
and the United Provinces, all readily associated, with the 
French monarch, in the design of humbling the house of 
Austria. 

But the final period of Henry's life, now rapidly ap- 
proached; and, while he meditated enterprises the most 
splendid and important, his own death was planned and ac- 
complished, by Francis Ravaillac, a native of Angouleme. 
When the distress of the fanatic Ravaillac, had reduced 
him to seek support, by imploring alms, he conceived the 
dark and desperate design, of mingling the miseries of a 
nation with his own, by arming his hand against the sove- 
reign of France. 

The morning that succeeded the coronation of the queen, 
had been destined for a visit to the arsenal. The king 
ordered his coach, and, accompanied by the duke d'Eper- 
non, and five other noblemen, together with du Plessis Li- 
ancourt, his master of horse, determined to proceed. Vitri, 



202 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

the captain of his guards, was despatched, to the palace, 
to hasten the preparations for the queen's entry; and the 
king's carriage was attended by only a small number of 
gentlemen, on horseback, and a few of the royal footmen. 
The curtains, on every side, were drawn up. In a narrow 
street, the coach was stopped, by the accidental meeting of 
two carts; the majority of the attendants instantly took a 
nearer way, and two only were left: — one of these went be- 
fore, to clear the passage; the other went behind, to tie up 
his garter. — At this instant, as the king turned, to read a 
letter to the duke d'Epernon, he received a stroke, from a 
knife; and had scarcely time to exclaim, " I am wounded," 
before a second, more violent, and more fatally directed, 
pierced his heart, and, breathing only a deep sigh, he sunk 
back, in the coach, a lifeless corpse. 

Thus perished, in the fifty-eighth year of his age, and the 
twenty -first of his reign, Henry IV. : to whom, has been 
given the rare and illustrious title of Great; with what de- 
gree of justice, the history of his actions will most properly 
decide. He was a brave soldier, an enlightened legislator, 
a kind and generous master, a warm and tender lover, a po- 
lite and obliging husband: but he contracted matrimony 
with a woman of blasted reputation, and stooped to apostacy, 
to gain a throne; his passion for the fair, too often led him 
to forget the prudence and dignity of the monarch: his ar- 
dent and guilty affection for the princess of Conde, in the 
decline of life, cast a cloud over his meridian glory; and 
the warmth with which he pursued, and the indiscretion 
with which he countenanced, the destructive rage of gaming, 
has been the subject of severe and general censure. 

As soon as their presence of mind returned, the nobles 
who accompanied Henry, seized the assassin; who still 
supported himself on the wheel of the coach, with the bloody 
instrument yet reeking in his hand, as if glorying in the 
atrocious deed. 

When Henry made excursions into the distant provinces, 
he used to stop the peasants whom he met, and inquire 
where they were going, what they sold, and what was the 
price. One of his attendants, expressing his surprise at 
such familiarity, was answered, by the monarch: " The 
kings of France, my predecessors, thought themselves dis- 
honoured in knowing the value of a teston. With respect 
to myself, I am anxious to know what is the value of half a 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 203 

denier, and what difficulty the poor people have to get it, 
so that they may not be taxed above their means. " 

Henry introduced into France, the culture and manufac- 
ture of silk; the success of which fully realized his expecta- 
tions. He had the satisfaction to see that this manufacture 
not only supplied the home consumption, but brought more 
money into the kingdom, than any 01 the former staples. He 
also established, at great expense, manufactures of tapestry 
and linen. The workmen for the first, he drew from the 
Spanish Netherlands; for the last, from the United Pro- 
vinces; and, to facilitate internal commerce, and promote 
the accommodation of his subjects, he built the Pont-Neuf, 
and cut the canal of Briare, which joins the rivers Seine 
and Loire; and had projected the junction of the two seas, 
when a period was put to all his great designs. 

In the latter part of his reign, the French extended their 
commercial enterprise to India; but they had as yet no 
colony in the Eastern seas. Quebec, the oldest settlement 
in North America, was founded by the French, in the year 
1606. 

Paris was a very different city, in this reign, from what 
it is, at the present day. It was not lighted; it had few 
coaches; the streets were extremely dirty, and so infested 
with robbers, that, by a regulation of the police, in 1609, the 
theatres were obliged, during the winter, to be opened at 
half past twelve, in the afternoon, and the plays to be 
finished at half past four; in order to preserve the inhabit- 
ants from the dangers to which they were exposed, by re- 
turning home in the dark. 

Philip II., of Spain, died in the year 1598, and queen 
Elizabeth, of England, in 1603: the former was succeeded 
by Philip III. ; the latter by James I. 

LOUIS XIII. 

1610—1643. 

France now beheld the sceptre pass from the vigorous 
grasp of Henry IV., to the feeble hands of an infant. Of 
his three sons, by Mary de Medicis, the eldest, who now 
succeeded to the throne, as Louis XIII., was only in his 
ninth year: but, the affliction, if any felt, by the queen, on 
the loss of Henry, was suspended, by the more interesting 



204 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

care of obtaining the regency; and her ambition was grati- 
fied, by the ready acquiescence of the parliament. 

The first moments had been employed in the acquisition 
of power; the next, were devoted to revenge. Ravaillac, 
whose murderous stroke had caused the untimely death of 
Henry, was drawn from his cell, to perish by the most ex- 
quisite torments. His bones were broken, by the execu- 
tioner; his flesh was torn, by red-hot pincers; scalding lead 
and oil were poured upon his wounds; and his mangled 
body, still quivering with life, was delivered to be dismem- 
bered by four horses. But the stubborn frame resisted their 
utmost efforts; the indignant multitude, whose thirst of ven- 
geance could no longer be restrained, rushing through the 
guards, in an instant put an end to his sufferings, by tear- 
ing him to pieces; and, with barbarous joy, they dragged 
his limbs, with frantic triumph, through the streets. — 
Amidst every effort of ingenious cruelty, inflicted by public 
justice, or perpetrated by the mob, he still maintained the 
declaration, that, impressed with the idea that the arma- 
ments of Henry were destined against the catholic church, 
he alone had planned, he alone was privy to the deed, to 
the just horror of which he was now awakened. 

The former ministers of the crown, the queen received 
with coldness, and listened to with disapprobation. Aban- 
doning herself, without reserve, to a fond partiality for her 
Italian adherents — Conchini, a poor Florentine gentleman, 
who had come to France, with Mary, to push his fortune, 
and now assumed the title of marquis of Ancre, and after- 
wards that of marshal; and Leonora Galigni, the favourite 
of the regent, whom Mary had brought with her, as a do- 
mestic; and Conchini, in order to increase his influence, 
had married — their united counsels, during the space of six 
years, ruled France, with imperious sway. 

Disdaining the arts of courts, and finding that sincerity, 
which had been esteemed by Henry, no longer acceptable, 
the duke of Sully retired to his estates. 

Instead of attempting to repress the dangerous ambition 
of the house of Austria, the regent, in order to establish her 
authority, determined closely to unite herself with that 
family; and, while the young king was contracted to the 
Infanta of Spain, the hand of his sister, the princess Eliza- 
beth, was engaged to the prince of Asturias, afterwards 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 205 

Philip IV. The marquis dissipated, with lavish hands, the 
treasures collected by the ambition of Henry, and preserved 
by the frugality of Sully; and prevailed upon the queen to 
arrest the prince of Conde; who had presumed to menace 
him with his indignation. The dukes of Vendome, Nevers, 
and Rohan, (the son-in-law of Sully) and other noblemen of 
honourable feelings, retired from court, and prepared to 
deliver themselves from the oppression of the favourite; and 
the public discontent was increased, by the promotion of the 
bishop of Lucon, afterwards the celebrated cardinal Richelieu. 
l6l6 But Conchini at length forged the weapon of his 
own destruction; and drew down, upon his own head, 
the ruin which he designed should fall upon his enemies. 
He had placed about the person of the king, a young gentle- 
man, named Luines; who insinuated himself into the favour 
and confidence of Louis, by the industry with which he 
planned, and the zeal with which he partook. of his childish 
amusements; but, while the new favourite seemed occupied 
in sports and pleasures — one day with the hawks, another 
with the hounds — he, in private, nourished an ambition, 
above his rank and station. The marquis had repulsed, with 
contempt, his offer of alliance, by uniting his brother to the 
niece of Ancre; and Luines, not insensible of the suspicious 
disposition of the crafty Florentine, determined to provide 
for his own safety, by the destruction of a man, whom, from 
that moment, he considered as his implacable enemy. He 
impressed Louis with a lively dread of the aspiring Italian; 
and the young king at length imparted his resolution to 
achieve his own deliverance, and to extinguish the flames 
of civil discord, by Conchini's death. On the morning 
fixed for his destruction, the latter had entered the Louvre, 
surrounded by forty gentlemen, who were indebted to his 
liberality for their support; he was earnestly engaged in 
reading a letter, when Vitri, the captain of the guards, ap- 
peared, and arrested him, in the name of the king. Ancre 
laid his hand upon his sword: this mark of resistance, was 
the signal for his destruction: the command of Vitri, to kill 
him, was instantly obeyed; and three pistols, discharged, 
with unerring aim, brought him, lifeless, to the ground. 

The offended pride of Luines was not satisfied, by the 
death of Conchini. The unfortunate Leonora was instantly 
secured. A judicial process commenced against her; she was 
charged with sorcery, and expiated, with her life, this ima- 



206 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

ginary crime. Being asked, by what magical spell, she had 
fascinated the queen-mother, she replied—" By that supe- 
riority, which a strong mind has always, over a weak one." 

In the history of another kingdom, we meet with an inci- 
dent, similarly fatal, and arising from the same cause. The 
influence exercised over the queen-mother, by these Italians, 
the consequent jealousy of Louis, and the assassination of 
Conchini, remind us of the tragical effect of that confidence, 
which was so indecorously extended, just half a century 
before, to Rizzio, by Mary queen of Scots. 

The destruction of her favourites, was attended by the 
disgrace of the queen-mother herself. Deprived of her 
guards, and divested of the insignia of royalty, she was per- 
mitted to retire to Blois: the power which had been exercised 
by Conchini, was transferred to Luines, with the title of 
duke ; and the bishop of Lucon was compelled to resign the 
office of secretary of state. 

1620 Uncommon energy was displayed, by Louis, in the 
numerous military operations, in which he was en- 
gaged, against his rebellious subjects. The Hugonots were 
not the only party that drew forth the vigour of his arms; 
though, by the suppression of the protestant religion, in the 
province of Bearne, where it had exclusively prevailed for a 
period of fifty years, the inhabitants of that quarter had the 
strongest provocation for declaring war against their sovereign. 

A timely death preserved Luines from experiencing upon 
how sandy a foundation he had raised the edifice of his 
political greatness. At the head of his councils, the king 
now placed the cardinal de Retz and the count of Schom- 
1 624 berg' and, on the death of the cardinal, he was pre- 
vailed on to introduce into his councils the bishop of 
Lucon, now known as the cardinal Richelieu; a man des- 
tined to restore the grandeur of France, and to establish a 
new epoch in the reign of Louis. 

"Born," says an elegant historian, "to steer the vessel 
of state amidst storms and quicksands, the political talents 
of the cardinal Richelieu, have, to the present moment, 
extorted the praise and admiration of posterity. Frequently 
successful, and always great, in his designs, he rose, with 
accumulated strength, from defeat; and the ambitious pre- 
late had no sooner exchanged the crozier for the seals, than 
his open and secret enemies were ovewheimed, by the tor- 
rent of his ambition. During eighteen years, he maintained 






HISTORY OF FRANCE. 207 

his ascendancy, over the jealous mind of his sovereign: the 
reformed, who had triumphed over the artifices of Catherine 
of Medicis, and the dark rage of Charles IX., were broken, 
by his invincible arm; and the house of Austria, defeated 
and depressed, was forced to yield, to his superior fortune, 
that which the valour and virtues of Francis I., and Henry 
IV., had in vain attempted." 

His rivals in the cabinent were the first victims of the 
arts of Richelieu; and, no sooner had lie established his au- 
thority at home, than he prepared to extend the terror of 
his name abroad. His admission into the conclave, had not 
served to inspire him with either zeal or awe for the court 
of Rome; and his contempt for the successor of St. Peter, 
was displayed in his instructions to expel the papal forces 
- from the Valteline. 

Transactions which arose out of a matrimonial connexion 
with the court of England, are not the least interesting 
events, in the reign of Louis. Considering every alliance 
below that of a king, as unworthy the prince of Wales, 
James I. determined never to bestow the hand of his son 
Charles, except on a daughter of France or Spain. With 
the latter court, his ambassador had opened a negotiation; 
but, when all measures were agreed upon, the connexion 
was broken, by a romantic enterprise, originally conceived 
with the idea of hastening the proposed alliance. 

George Villiers, from an obscure condition, had been 
elevated, by James, to the rank and title of duke of Buck- 
ingham; and, to ingratiate himself with the son, he proposed 
to the prince of Wales, to break through the forms usually 
observed by the heirs of royalty; and, passing in disguise, 
to Madrid, to introduce himself, to the Infanta, as an ardent 
and devoted lover. Charles relished the gallantry of the 
proposal; a reluctant consent was extorted from his father; 
and the prince of Wales, accompanied by Buckingham, 
privately set out from London, and crossed over to Calais: 
they had even the temerity, in their journey, to visit the 
French court, in disguise; where the charms of the princess 
Henrietta, the sister of Louis, made a deep impression on 
the heart of the youthful prince. 

But the volatde manners and dissolute pleasures of the 
duke of Buckingham, ill accorded with the gravity of the 
Spanish court. He determined to return, without accom- 
plishing the object of his journey: the delay of the dispen- 



208 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

sation from Rome, afforded a decent pretence; and, imme- 
diately on their arrival in England, the duke prevailed upon 
the flexible king and prince, to break off the negotiation. 
1 625 Nothing now remained, but an alliance with France. 
The earls of Holland and Carlisle were sent over, on 
tiiis occasion, as ambassadors; and, though the portion of 
Henrietta was much inferior to that of the Infanta, yet the 
superior address of Richelieu extorted the same terms, for 
Louis, as had been granted to the king of Spain; and Buck- 
ingham was despatched to Paris, to escort the bride to her 
royal consort; who, by the death of his father, James, had 
ascended the throne of England, as Charles I. 

But the near alliance of France, with a protestant king, 
did not deter the cardinal from nourishing the most fatal 
designs against the reformed religion. A treaty lately en- 
tered into, with the Hugonots, had been infringed, by the 
introduction of a royal garrison into Montpelier: their re- 
monstrances had been disregarded or evaded, by the court; 
and a new subject of discontent arose, from a royal fleet, 
stationed at L'Orient, to guard and block up the harbour 
of Rochelle. A desultory war commenced. The Rochellers 
were defeated, at sea, by the united squadrons of France 
and England: but the loss of the confederates, in the action, 
prevented them from improving their advantage. The cla- 
mours of the English, compelled their sovereign to interfere: 
the mediation of the consort of Henrietta, was listened to, 
with respect; a peace was, at length, concluded, which con- 
firmed the edict of Nantz; and Louis consented that his 
brother-in-law should guarantee, to the protestants, the 
articles of peace. 
n 97 Little Confidence can be placed in the stipulations 
of kings. The latter treaty was not more faithfully 
observed, by Louis, than the former. Nor is it probable, 
that the pledge given, by Charles, for its performance, 
would have been redeemed, in favour of the Hugonots, but 
for the intervention of an incident, entirely unconnected 
with the public. When despatched to the court of Paris, 
for the purpose of conducting the princess Henrietta to Eng- 
land, the duke of Buckingham had entertained a guilty pas- 
sion for the queen of France; and, in a private visit, was 
received by her with a reproof, that savoured more of kind- 
ness, than of anger. But, his presumption had not escaped 
the observation of the cardinal; whose vigilance, on this oc* 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 209 

casion, was excited, it is supposed, by an interest, not 
altogether consistent with his fidelity to his master, or his 
vows as a Roman Catholic priest: on the preparation of 
Buckingham, for a second embassy to Paris, he was inform- 
ed, by a message from Louis, that he must not think of 
such a journey; and, although the duke reluctantly aban- 
doned the design of proceeding, as an ambassador, he swore 
that he would see the queen, in spite of all the power of 
France; and, ever afterwards, cherished a deep resent- 
ment against Richelieu; to whose suggestions, he imputed 
his disappointment. 

1 62ft Charles lent a willing ear to the wishes of his fa- 
vourite. Before the mighty preparations of Riche- 
lieu, against Rochelle, could be completed, an English fleet 
of one-hundred sail, and an army of seven-thousand men, 
were equipped, for the invasion oi France. But, so ill con- 
certed were the measures of the duke, that the English were 
repulsed, in repeated attacks; and Buckingham himself, af- 
ter the loss of two-thirds of his land troops, found it neces- 
sary to make a precipitate retreat. 

To efface the dishonour of the English arms, the duke of 
Buckingham determined to head another expedition against 
the French; but, while he hastened the preparations, at 
Portsmouth, he was assassinated, by one Felton; who had 
served the duke as a lieutenant, but had been disappointed 
in receiving an advance in rank. 

The retreat of Buckingham was the signal for action, to 
Richlieu. The army assembled by him,, was commanded 
by the king, in person, and animated by the presence of the 
most distinguished nobles. The cardinal aspired to the 
reputation of a soldier, as well as of a statesman. He plan- 
ned the lines of circumvallation, designed the different forts, 
and directed the attacks. To deprive the besieged of all 
succour, he formed a project, which rivals the mighty work 
of Alexander the Great, when besieging Tyre — that of 
throwing across the harbour of Rochelle, a mole, of a mile 
in extent. He at length beheld the stupendous work com- 
pleted, and enabled to defy all the efforts of the English 
fleet In vain, did the earl of Lindsay endeavour to force 
his way into the harbour. The mole resisted and repelled 
the weight of his attacks; and, hopeless of success, he 
abandoned the city to despair, and returned to England. 
The last spark of enthusiasm, which had so long inspirited 
S 2 



210 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

the miserable inhabitants of that city, expired with his re- 
treat. While yet his sails were in sight, they consented to 
surrender, at discretion; and some idea may be formed of 
the miseries they had endured, since, of fifteen-thousand 
persons originally shut up in Rochelle, four-thousand were 
all that now remained. 

The fortune of the cardinal was conspicuous, in the mo- 
ment of submission. Scarcely had the citizens opened their 
gates, before a tempest agitated the ocean, so violently, as 
to bury, in the waves, the proud structure that he had plan- 
ned. Had the inhabitants persevered only a few hours 
longer, the fury of the storm would have overwhelmed the 
pride of the cardinal, and preserved their freedom. 

Until the reduction of Rochelle, the protestants of France 
had formed a sort of imperium in imperio; but, after that 
event, they no longer constituted a distinct body in the 
state. 

1629 Undismayed, however, by the reduction of Ro- 
chelle, the duke of Rohan still displayed the banner 
of revolt, in Guienne and Languedoc, and the mountains of 
the Cevennes. Nismes, Montauban, Castres, Privas, and 
Alais, still professed the principles of the reformed, and de- 
clared their resolution to seal their faith with their blood. 
The king assaulted the walls of Privas, compelled the go- 
vernor to surrender at discretion, and devoted the inhabit- 
ants, without exception of age or sex, to the sword. 

The next grand object of cardinal Richelieu, was to cur- 
tail the Austrian power. With this view, he supported the 
protestants of Germany, after having reduced those of 
France; and, a treaty of alliance was concluded with Sweden, 
for the purpose of humbling the emperor. The celebrated 
Gustavus Adolphus entered the field, at the head of thirty- 
thousand men; and Louis supplied him with money, to en- 
able him to carry the war into the heart of Germany. On 
~nr,q the sixteenth of November, the Swedish monarch 
?^ was killed, at the battle of Lutzen; but the treaty 

was renewed with his daughter and successor, the renowned 
Christiana. 

While hostilities in Germany were prosecuted, with great 
success, by the Swedish generals Torstenson, Bannier, the 
duke of Saxe Weimar, and other warriors of note, Louis 
declared war against Spain. This measure was in perfect 
conformity with the views of Richelieu; whose object was, 






HISTORY OF FRANCE. 211 



to humble both branches of the house of Austria. The war 
continued thirteen years against the emperor, and twenty- 
five against Spain; and neither the king of France, nor his 
1636 mm i ster » lived to see its termination. In the second 
campaign, the near approach of the Spanish army, 
from the Netherlands, caused great consternation, in Paris; 
but the duke of Orleans, only surviving brother of the king, 
obliged the enemy to repass the Somme. 

It would be equally tedious and unprofitable, to narrate 
the various conspiracies and revolts of the nobles, against 
the minister. Amongst those who fell, by the hands of 
the executioner, the most distinguished were the marshal 
de Marillac, Henry de Montmorenci, a duke and marshal 
of France, the marquis of Cinq-Mars, and a son of the 
1 642 celebrated historian, M. de Thou. The morning on 
which the two latter lost their heads, brought intelli- 
gence of the surrender of Perpignan; and Richelieu ap- 
prized the king of both events, by a single and expressive 
line — "Your troops are in Perpignan, and your enemies in 
the grave." 

But the grave was, at this time, yawning, to receive the 
cardinal himself. Exhausted in body, yet still vigorous in 
mind, he closed his career, at Paris, in the fifty-ninth year 
of his age; with a fortitude and serenity that astonished 
those who had beheld the sanguinary effects of his adminis- 
tration. 

Three mighty achievements signalized the period of his go- 
vernment. He humbled the turbulent spirits of the great; 
he subdued the stubborn zeal of the Hugonots; and curbed 
the encroaching power of the house of Austria. 

To his patronage, the " Academie Francaise," owes its 
institution; and the French language that refinement which 
has contributed, in no small degree, to render it a general 
vehicle of communication, throughout Europe. 
iqa* Louis now endeavoured to manage the affairs of 
state, himself. Mazarin, for whom the late minister 
had obtained a cardinal's hat, was, indeed, introduced into 
the council; but the only change that appeared, in public 
measures, was the recalling from banishment, and releasing 
from confinement, the most illustrious objects of Richelieu's 
jealousy or resentment. 

The war was still prosecuted with vigour: but the suc- 
cess of the royal arms could not check the progress of dia- 



212 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

ease. Louis had now reached the goal of his mortal race, 
and expired, with firm composure and resignation, in the 
forty-second year of his age, and on the very day in which 
he had completed the thirty -third of his reign. 

It is not easy to estimate the character of Louis. He pos- 
sessed activity and enterprise ; his personal courage shone 
forth with superior lustre; but, though he obtained the epi- 
thet of Just, he was frequently severe as a magistrate, and 
cruel in the field. 

CHAPTER IV. 

LOUIS XIV. 

1643—1715. 

LOUIS the Fourteenth, son of the late king, had not yet 
completed his fifth year. The will of his father, by which 
a council of regency had been appointed, to administer the 
royal functions, until the infant sovereign should have 
reached the age of fourteen, was instantly rejected, by the 
parliament; and his widow, Anne of Austria, was invested 
with unlimited power. She soon resigned herself to the in- 
fluence of cardinal Mazarin; a native of the little town of 
Piscina, in Italy; whose political knowledge and address, 
had introduced him to the confidence of Richelieu; and who 
now acquired that ascendancy over the mind of his royal 
mistress, that Richelieu had obtained over her deceased con- 
sort. Mazarin had a fine person, an easy and insinuating 
address, was possessed of every polite accomplishment, had 
an air of courtesy and kindness, was an able statesman and 
a finished courtier; but, in respect to virtue, honour, pro- 
bity, or regard for the people, he neither pretended to them 
himself, nor were they attributed to him, by others. 

The circumstances of Europe were favourable to the 
designs of France. Portugal had shaken off the Spanish 
yoke, and established the duke of Braganza, as John IV., 
upon the throne; the Catalonians still displayed the banners 
of revolt; the United Provinces had been cherished and 
protected by Henry IV. and Louis XIII. ; the sceptre of 
Sweden was still in the hands of Christiana, whose generals 
maintained a successful war against the emperor of Ger- 






HISTORY OF FRANCE. * 213 

many; while, in Great Britain, Charles I., inheriting his 
father's lofty ideas of prerogative, had kindled the flame of 
civil war, throughout that island. 

The Spanish infantry, hitherto deemed invincible, was 
defeated at Rocroy, on the frontiers of Flanders, by_Louis 
of Bourbon, duke d'Enghien, son to the prince of Conde; 
and the same general soon afterwards took Thionville. on 
the banks of the Mozelle; routed the imperial army, at 
Fribourg; and swept, with his victorious troops, Philipsburg 
and Metz, Oppenheim and Worms, with the several forts 
along the Rhine. But, his splendid career of glory, instead 
- fi47 of exciting the gratitude, had awakened the jealousy 
of the court; and, by the envy of Mazarin, he was 
detached into Catalonia, with a feeble and ill-provided army. 
The death of his father, had devolved upon him the title of 
prince of Conde, and the admiration of the public had at- 
tached to it the epithet of Great: but, his slender force 
allowed him not, on that theatre, to rival his former actions; 
and he was compelled to retire from the walls of Lerida, 
which had previously been assaulted by the marshal de la 
Mo the Haudancourt, and the count de Grammont. 
lfi4 £ In Flanders, the duke of Orleans reduced Gra- 
velines, Mardyke, and Courtray; and in Germany, 
marshal Turenne — the greatest military leader of that time 
>—in conjunction with the Swedes, defeated the imperial 

fenerals, Montecuculli and Melander. His success in- 
uenced Spain to acknowledge the United Provinces, as 
free and independent states; and, by a second treaty, sub- 
scribed at Munster, the emperor, alarmed at the progress 
of the Swedes, consented to purchase peace, by ceding, to 
France, the bishoprics of Metz, Toul, and Verdun, with his 
pretensions to Pignerol, Brisac, and Alsace. 

But the power and glory of France were, in the mean 
time, shaken to their foundation, by the rage of contending 
factions. The administration of Mazarin, was far from 
being acceptable to the public. As a foreigner, they regard- 
ed him with jealousy; and the heavy taxes which he imposed, 
converted that jealousy into hatred. The parliament of 
Paris made a stand against his requisitions, similar to that, 
which, in the following century, hurled the misguided 
Bourbons from the throne. That body refused to sanction, 
by a registry, the edicts for the new imposts; and the court, 
to enforce its authority, arrested Blancmenil, the president, 



214 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

and the counsellor Broussell. This tyrannical step was the 
signal of instant sedition: all Paris rose in arms; and the 
queen, to secure her own safety, ordered the prisoners to 
be released. 

1649 ^ e re S en t an( l ner minister did not feel secure, 
at Paris. They escaped, with the infant king, to the 
royal palace, at St. Germains; whither, they were accom- 
panied by the duke of Orleans; and the queen summoned to 
her defence, the prince of Conde. The adverse faction, 
who assumed the name of the Fronde, and maintained pos- 
session of the capital, were inspired by the intriguing spirit 
of the cardinal de Retz; and headed by the prince of Conti, 
brother of the prince of Conde, aided by the dukes of Lon- 
gueville, Bouillon, and Beaufort. 

But the court was still formidable, from the high reputa- 
tion of the prince of Conde. With an army 01 scarcely 
eight- thou sand soldiers, he blocked up a city containing 
half a million of inhabitants; and, though Turenne was al- 
lured by the charms of the dutchess of Longueville, to em- 
brace the party of the Fronde, yet his military talents availed 
him little, when seconded only by a tumultuous mob. A 
cessation of hostilities was at length arranged. The leaders, 
on each side, having obtained the particular object of their 
avarice or ambition, the public good was buried in studied 
silence; the storm was, for a moment, hushed, and the court 
returned to the deserted capital. 

England was, in the mean time, most violently afflicted. 
Charles I. had expired on the scaffold, his children were 
driven into exile, and Cromwell, having usurped the regal 
power, under the title of protector, ruled the country with 
absolute sway. 

The calm which had followed the popular tempest, in 
Paris, was deceitful. The citizens again resumed their 
arms, and turned their s'words against each other. The 
prince of Conde and his brother were suddenly arrested, 
by the orders of Mazarin, and confined in prison, until that 
minister was compelled to release them. 
-g 51 Louis had now attained the age fixed for his as- 
suming the reins of government; but he was still 
influenced by the councils of his mother, and seemed to in- 
herit her fond partiality for Mazarin. Sensible of the im- 
placable resentment of the queen,, the prince of Conde re- 
tired from Paris, to arm, in his support, the provinces of 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. ' 215 

Guienne, Poictou, and Anjou; and allied himself with the 
Spaniards, the very people, on whose defeat, he had found- 
ed his martial glory. 

.g 5 - The civil war between the two powerful factions, 
was continued, with various success. The military 
operations of Louis, against his foreign enemies, were more 
decidedly in his favour. Landreci and Quesnoi were re- 
duced, by marshal Turenne; and a road was thus opened 
into the Spanish Netherlands. The king, in person, beheld 
the successful siege of St. Guillain; the Spaniards were com- 
pelled, by the marquis Merinville, to retire from the walls 
of Solsonna, and their fleet was defeated, before Barcelona, 
by the duke of Vendome. 

But even these victories afforded less satisfaction to Ma- 
zarin, than a treaty, soon afterwards concluded by him, with 
the protector of England. This energetic statesman was 
equally courted and dreaded, by all Europe. Never had 
England been more formidable, than under the government 
of Cromwell. But Louis purchased his alliance by a conces- 
sion, most unhospi table and ignominious; which the mag- 
nanimity of his maturer years, would have disdained; and 
which must solely be imputed to the more subtle and less 
honourable policy of his Italian minister. Charles II., and 
his brother, the duke of York, both sons of the late unfor- 
tunate king of England, and consequently the grandsons 
of Henry IV. of France, and cousins of Louis himself, were 
compelled, by the imperious voice of Cromwell, to quit the 
latter kingdom, and seek an asylum in the dominions of 
Spain. 

1658 While the honour of France, however, was thus 
tarnished, by withdrawing her protection from the 
unhappy strangers, the advantage accruing to her arms, was 
not only brilliant, but important. Though Turenne expe- 
rienced a reverse of fortune, before Valenciennes, yet, aided 
by an English fleet, and six-thousand infantry of that nation, 
he obtained the surrender of Dunkirk; but Louis had no 
sooner entered, in triumph, the prostrate city, than he was 
compelled to deliver it to Lockhart, the ambassador of 
Cromwell. 

This was the last acquisition of the Protector. His dying 
breath bequeathed his power to his eldest son Richard; who 
was acknowledged as the executive magistrate, of England, 
by the court of France. 



216 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

On the surrender of Dunkirk, marshal Turenne turned 
his arms against Fumes and Dixmude, which soon yielded 
to his impetuous assaults; as did also Oudenarde andMenin, 

1659 Gravelines an d Ypres. The rigour of winter at 
length paralysed the hand of war. Spain had now 

become alarmed, by the losses of the previous campaign; 
and France was, for the present, satisfied with conquest. 
The belligerents agreed upon a cessation of arms; and, in 
the isle of Pheasants, on the frontiers of the two kingdoms, 
Mazarin and Don Louis de Haro, appeared, as the repre- 
sentatives of their respective sovereigns. At the end of four 
months, the conferences were ended, and a war of twenty- 
five years concluded, by the celebrated treaty of the Py- 
renees. Philip made several concessions: Louis was to 
receive the hand of the Infanta, with half a million of gold 
crowns; Alsace and Rousillon were confirmed to him; but 
he solemnly renounced every succession that might acrue 
to him, in right of his consort; — a renunciation to which he 
afterwards paid not the smallest regard: — to Germany, he 
restored the dutchy of Lorraine; to Spain, the cities of St* 
Omer, Ypres, Menin, and Oudenarde; and he consented to 
pardon the prince of Conde. 

1660 * n ^ ie f°U° wm g vear > a mos * unexpected revolu- 
tion occurred, in England. Richard Cromwell, 

having signed his own dismission, and retired to enjoy the 
quiet of a private life; by the prompt and able management 
of general Monk, Charles II., a hopeless exile from his 
native country, was placed upon the throne. 
lfifil A treaty at Vincennes, with the duke of Lorraine, 
* was the last act of cardinal Mazarin. Nine days 
afterwards, he expired. 

The administration and talents of Mazarin, have been 
compared with those of Richelieu; but, for the energetic 
features which distinguished the -latter, we in vain seek, in 
his successor. Prudent, subtle, and avaricious, he endea- 
voured rather to sooth, than to command; to deceive, than 
to vanquish; and the love of glory either existed not in his 
bosom, or was lost in his insatiate thirst for gold. 

On the death of Mazarin, a new era commenced, in the 
government of France. Louis XIV., now in his twenty -third 
year, prepared to throw off those shackles, which the ascend- 
ancy of his minister had imposed; and hereafter to assume, 
not only the ensigns of royalty, but the duties of a king. 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 217 

His resolution once formed, he maintained it to the last 
moment of his life. He appointed bounds to the power of 
all his ministers; obliged them to give an account of every 
thing, at certain hours; restored order to the finances, and 
established discipline amongst the troops. 

The security of his kingdom was augmented, by the pur- 
chase of Dunkirk. Charles II. was reduced, by his pro- 
fusion, to the necessity of parting with that important place; 
and Louis obtained it, for the sum of four-hundred-thousand 
pounds. The interval of peace was employed, by the French 
monarch, in preparations for a. successful war. In the 
silent lapse of six years, he had replenished his coffers, cre- 
ated a naval force, augmented his armies, and provided an 
immense quantity of military stores. The two ministers, who 
principally shared his confidence, were Colbert and Lou- 
vois. The former, in the finances, rivalled the fame and 
abilities of the duke of Sully: the latter first displayed 
to Europe the means of subsisting large armies, at a distance, 
by magazines. 

Under the administration of Colbert, commerce began to 
flourish, the arts were patronised, industry was every where 
encouraged, the academies of painting, of sculpture, and of 
the sciences, were instituted, to improve the national taste; 
and the learned of foreign nations, found in Louis, and in his 
virtuous minister, a liberal friend. As superintendant of 
the public buildings, he improved and embellished the capital; 
and, by erecting the noble palaces of the Tuileries, Ver- 
sailles, the Louvre, and Fontainbleau, he contributed to the 
comfort of the monarch, and to the honour of the nation. 
He likewise promoted the Languedoc canal, by which, after 
fourteen years, incessant labour, the two seas were united; 
and introduced a severe reform in the courts of justice. 
1668 ^^ e ^ eatn °f the queen-mother, who no longer re- 
tained her influence on the mind of her son, was an 
event of less moment, than the decease of Philip II., of 
Spain. He left a son, Charles II.: but the queen of France, 
the issue of a former marriage, claimed a considerable pro- 
vince of the Spanish monarchy, even to the exclusion of his 
brother. By the custom of some parts of Brabant, a female 
of a first marriage, is preferred to a male of a second; and 
Louis, in open violation of his renunciation in the treaty of 
the Pyrenees, prepared to vindicate the claim of his consort, 
by the sword. 



218 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

With an army of forty thousand men, directed by Tu- 
renne, he burst into the defenceless province of Flanders. 
Destitute of magazines or fortifications, and of garrisons, 
the towns surrendered to Louis, without resistance. But, 
his rapid progress awakened the envy and the fears of his 
powerful neighbours. A triple league was formed, by Eng- 
land, Holland, and Sweden, to prescribe bounds to his am- 
bition. A negotiation was soon commenced, and rapidly 
concluded. By the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle, Louis re- 
tained his acquisitions in Flanders, but restored Franche 
Compte, to Spain; and, though by these conditions, he gain- 
ed an extensive territory, fruitful and populous, yet he ever 
afterwards harboured an implacable resentment against the 
states of Holland; whose deputies had displayed, at the con- 
gress, an independent and inflexible spirit, which ill ac- 
corded with his lofty conceptions of the deference due to 
royal power. 

.j - 70 Louis soon prepared to gratify his revenge. His 
attention was first directed to increase his naval 
force; then, to detach the king of England from his alli- 
ance with the Dutch. The latter was not difficult to ac- 
complish. The brother of the French king, the duke of 
Orleans, had married the sister of Charles, and the influ- 
ence of that princess was exerted over the mind of the Eng- 
lish monarch. But Louis well knew Charles's character, 
and the usual fluctuation of his counsels. In order to fix 
him in the French interests, he resolved to bind him by the 
ties of pleasure; the only bonds, which, with him, were irre- 
sistible: he therefore made him a present of a French mis- 
tress; by whose means, he hoped, for the future, to govern 
him. To a conference held with Charles, at Dover, the 
dutchess of Orleans, forgetting the delicacy of virtue, and be- 
coming a pander to the unchaste desires of her own brother, 
brought with her a beautiful young lady, of the name of 
Qnerouaille; whom the king carried to London, and soon 
afterwards created dutchess of Portsmouth. This female, to 
whom he was extremely attached, during the whole course of 
his life, proved a great means of supporting his connexions 
with her native country.* The necessities of Charles, se- 

* The Author has seen, in Europe, a fine portrait of this celebrated 
woman; from whom, was descended the late duke of Richmond, who 
died, a few years ago, in Canada, and had been the subject of consi- 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 219 

conded her arts. The sums that his profusion demanded, 
and his parliament denied, were supplied by Louis; and the 
king of England was thus prevailed on, to relinquish the 
most settled maxims of policy and honour, and sign engage- 
ments for the destruction of Holland, with which he had so 
lately united himself, to suppress the ambition of France; 
and also for the establishment of popery and arbitrary sway, 
in Great Britain. 

Two factions at this time agitated the Dutch republic. 
One was headed by John de Witt, grand pensionary of 
Holland: a man equally eminent for greatness of mind, for 
capacity, and integrity; but who regarded with jealousy, 
the least shadow of absolute power: — the other, less attach- 
ed to the exterior of liberty, desirous of restoring the stadt- 
holdership, and of investing the prince of Orange with the 
posts and dignities of his ancestors. 
}Q~o Louis XIV. burst into the United Provinces, at the 

/ ' head of a prodigious army, fearful by its number, 
and rendered still more formidable, by the skill and expe- 
rience of Turenne, Conde, Luxembourg, and Vauban. 
Their progress was commensurate with their means of con- 
quest. In little more than a month, three provinces, out of 
seven — Guelderland, Overyssel, and Utrecht-— were in the 
hands of Louis; Groningen was threatened, Friezeland lay 
exposed, and the only difficulty that presented itself, was 
in Holland and Zealand, where his conquests were stopped, 
by an inundation. 

But the Dutch maintained their former renown, at sea; 
and engaged, with alacrity, the combined fleets of two pow- 
erful nations; the English, commanded by the duke of York 
(afterwards James II.) and the earl of Sandwich; the French, 
by the count d'Estrees. De Ruyter, the republican ad- 
miral, acquired, on this occasion, immortal honour; and 
acknowledged, that, of two-and-thirty actions, in which 
lie had been engaged, this battle was the most obstinately 
disputed. The loss sustained by the two fleets, was 
nearly equal: the approach of night suspended the fury of 
the combatants, and both sides retired to their respective 
harbours, to repair. 

The glory of De Ruyter could not inspire his country- 

derable notice, in consequence of a duel fought by him, with the duke 
of York. 



220 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

men, to emulate his conduct, on land. The states deter- 
mined to implore the pity of the confederated monarchs; but 
the conditions prescribed, by Louis, were little better than 
articles of slavery; and displayed any thing but the senti- 
ments of a generous mind. All the towns, on the other 
side of the Rhine, were to be ceded, with Nimeguen, and 
several in the very heart of the provinces: the Roman Catho- 
lic religion was every where to be established, and a medal 
was annually to be presented, to the French court, import- 
ing that the Hollanders retained their freedom, by the mode- 
ration of Louis. 

The indignation of the populace, at terms so ruinous and 
disgraceful, broke out, in violent seditions. The unfortu- 
nate De Witt, and his brother Cornelius, were torn to pieces, 
and the united voice of the people invested, with the sole 
administration, William prince of Orange. Though only in 
his twenty -second year, the prince gave strong indications of 
those great qualities, by which his life was afterwards dis- 
tinguished. His appointment once more animated the droop- 
ing spirits of his countrymen: to check the progress of the 
victor, they opened their sluices, and laid the adjacent 
country under water; Louis returned to his capital; in the 
ensuing year, the emperor and the king of Spain declared 
themseves allies of the Dutch; De Ruyter still maintained 
his reputation at sea; and the French monarch was obliged 
to recall his forces, and abandon all his conquests, with 
greater rapidity than he had made them. 

The ensuing year had not elapsed, when another unfa- 
vourable event occurred to Louis. The firm remonstrances 
of the English parliament, and the clamours of the people, 
compelled Charles to conclude a peace with the United Pro- 
vinces. Yet, the restless and aspiring mind of Louis was 
not dismayed. Inactivity was to him as death. It was in 
war, only, that he seemed to live. Hostilities were re- 
newed, by him, with unabated vigour; and fresh laurels 
were gathered, by his experienced generals. But the time 
~n~~ was short, in which Turenne was allowed to wear 
his blood-stained crown. When reconnoitering the 
site of an intended battery, near the village of Saltzbach, 
on the Rhine, he was killed, by a cannon-ball; and, shortly 
afterwards, the prince of Conde closed the long series of his 
martial toils, by retiring to his palace, at Chantilly; while 
the imperial general, Montecuculli* full of years and fame, 






HISTORY OF FRANCE. 221 

withdrew from the scene of action, unwilling to expose that 
reputation, with younger adversaries, which he had acquired 
as the rival of Conde and Turenne. 

The French were, at this time, still more successful at 
sea. The duke de Vivonne defeated the combined fleets of 
Holland and Spain, near the coast of Sicily, in three differ- 
ent engagements. The second of these was rendered me- 
morable, by the death of the famous Dutch admiral, De Ruy- 
ter: the last and most decisive was fought near Palermo; 
where twelve of the enemies' largest ships were taken or 
destroyed, and five-thousand of their men were killed. 
■icjrs Meanwhile, the language of peace had been re- 
sumed, and a congress had assembled, at Nimeguen, 
under the mediation of the king of England. Having be- 
stowed the hand of his niece upon the prince of Orange, 
Charles seemed desirous of acquiescing in the wishes of the 
nation, and of rolling back, from the suffering provinces, the 
tide of ruin. The Dutch ambassador there signed a treaty, 
disadvantageous both to the republic and its allies; to which 
the king of Spain and the emperor reluctantly subscribed. 

This war, and the treaty by which it was concluded, gave 
to Louis a decided ascendancy, in Europe. His generals 
had shown themselves superior to those of every other nation, 
and his arms had humbled his most powerful neighbours. 
1 fisfi ^ ne death °f ms queen was an event but little re- 
garded, by Louis; who already felt that passion for 
madame de Maintenon, which accompanied him through 
life. He was doubtless more concerned at the death of 
Colbert; whose skill and ability, as a financier, had greatly 
contributed to his conquests. 

The peace of Nimeguen served only to inflame the ambi- 
tion of the French monarch. He still retained a formidable 
army; and, acting as if he were absolute sovereign of Europe, 
he revived old titles and claims, that were buried in remote 
antiquity, and made daily encroachments upon the neigh- 
bouring states. 

On pretences, the most frivolous, he demanded Alost from 
the Spaniards, and, on their refusal, seized upon Luxem- 
bourg; to which indignity, the weakness of Spain compelled 
her to submit, by signing, at Ratisbon, a truce for twenty 
years; which left Louis in peaceable possession of that town. 
With equal injustice, he bombarded Genoa, and constrained 
the republic to sue for peace, for having stipulated to build 
t 2 



£22 HISTORY OF FRANCE, 

some galleys, for the Spaniards. But, a more becoming spirit 
was displayed against Algiers; whose licentious rovers, after 
beholding the greater part of their city reduced to ashes, were 
compelled to release several hundred Christian captives. 
Yet the true principles of Christianity were foreign to the 
breast of Louis. He exercised not less injustice towards 
a large portion of his own subjects, than severity against the 
infidels of Algiers. His inclinations were all despotic. 
While he braved the spiritual censures of the father of the 
Roman Catholic church, he revoked the edict of Nantz, 
revived the persecution against the protestants, and drove 
into exile above five-hundred-thousand of the most indus- 
trious and ingenious inhabitants of France; which unfeeling 
measure — as impolitic, as it was cruel — gave a death-blow 
to her manufactures, the chief support of her multifarious 
and extensive commerce. 

Ifift7 r ^' ie me l ancn °ly fate of the refugees, inflamed 
' against him all the protestant nations of Europe. 
The prince of Orange formed a league, at Augsburg; where 
the whole empire united in its defence, against the French 
monarch; and to which, Spain, Holland, and Savoy, became 
parties, and Sweden and Denmark seemed favourably 
inclined. 

1 gpo But the attention of the king was suddenly en- 
grossed, by the affairs of England. Charles II. had 
expired: he was succeeded on the throne by his brother 
James ; who openly violated the laws of his country, at- 
tempted to subvert the national religion, and introduce into 
the kingdom the tyrannical authority of the church of Rome. 
His subjects, (of whom, only about a hundredth part, were, 
at this time, catholics) were compelled to provide for their 
safety, by revolt; and to call, to their protection, the prince 
of Orange, the son-in-law and nephew of the infatuated 
James; who, with his consort, Mary, were soon placed, by 
the almost unanimous voice of the English nation, upon the 
throne. James sought shelter, with his infant son and queen 
in France: where, the royal fugitives were received, by 
Louis, with every mark of respect, and assurance of support. 
The unhappy prince had still a strong party in Ireland. 
Thither, lie repaired, with arms and ammunition, and a 
iieet, furnished by the king of France: on the banks of the 
iron Boyne, between Drogheda and Slane, he was en- 
countered by his rival, William; was there entirely 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 223 

routed ; and, after the disastrous action, having fled hastily on 
board a ship, he returned to the court of France. 

In the mean time, the French admiral, Tourville, gained, 
oft* Beachy Head, a victory over the combined fleets of 
England and Holland, commanded by the earl of Torring- 
ton and admiral Evertzen; by which, the allies lost eight sail 
of the line, and many others were rendered unfit for service. 
- fiqo In Flanders, too, the arms of Louis were decidedly 

victorious ; though, in Germany and Spain, the scales 
of victory were more equally balanced. Still eager to 
restore the prostrate fortunes of James, he determined to 
hazard a general action, at sea; and, if successful, to land 
an army on the shores of England. The hostile fleets met, 
in the Channel, near Cape la Hogue; and Tourville, the 
French admiral, obeyed the orders of his sovereign. But, 
the superior number of his opponents, soon decided the fate 
of the day. Tourville's own ship, and twenty more, of his 
largest vessels, were destroyed; and James beheld, from a 
neighbouring eminence, the scattered fragments, which 
blasted the fond expectations that he had nourished. 
T ™., But the fortune of Louis seemed still inclined to 
' favour him, on land. Namur, the strongest fortress 
of the Netherlands, was reduced, even in the sight of AVil- 
liam; and at Landen, the army of the confederates, under the 
command of this gallant prince, was broken, by the duke 
of Luxembourg, with the loss of eight-thousand men. Yet, 
while France appeared an object of envy, to the neighbouring 
states, her distress every day increased, with the number of 
her victories. Her provinces were depopulated, to recruit 
her fleets and armies; the ravages of the sword attended by 
those of famine; and her monarch, while exulting in the midst 
of war, was frequently heard to sigh for peace. The king of 
England invested Namur; and, though that city was obsti- 
nately defended, by marshal Boufllers, it was obliged to 
capitulate, in sight of the French army, under the command 
of Villeroy. 
1 ™_ Each party at length seriously inclined to peace. 

The mediation of Charles XII., of Sweden, was ac- 
cepted, and the castle of Ryswick, near the Hague, was 
fixed upon, as the scene of negotiation. The king of France 
restored, to the Spaniards, all those places that he had taken 
from them, during the last w r ar; and the conquests made by 
him in Flanders : to the empire, he relinquished many fortified 



224 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

towns, of not less importance: he acknowledged William IIL 
(whom he had hitherto treated as a usurper) as lawful king of 
England; and thus, France, after a long and bloody war, in 
which her victories were scarcely less numerous than her 
battles, consented to a treaty, which could hardly have been 
expected from her, if humbled by defeat. 
UQ-t Only four years were allowed to pass, before Louis 
again shook off the restraints of peace. On the death 
of the Spanish monarch, Charles II. without children, the 
king of France, in conformity with a will which had been 
executed, by means of improper influence, by the dying 
prince, caused his grandson, the duke of Anjou, to be pro- 
claimed sole heir of all his dominions, under the title of Philip 
V., to the total exclusion of the house of Austria; which had 
equal pretensions to the inheritance, and in direct contra- 
vention of a partition treaty, which he himself had concluded 
with the king of England and the states general. 

While Leopold still hesitated whether to acknowledge or 
oppose the elevation of Philip, he was aroused, by a new 
proof of the insatiate disposition of Louis. Having prevailed 
upon the duke of Mantua to admit a French garrison into his 
citadel, all Europe trembled for their liberties. The emperor 
immediately prepared to guarantee the integrity of his empire, 
by the sword; and intrusted his army to the command of 
the prince Eugene. This general, (a son of the count of Sois- 
sons) who had already distinguished himself, in successive 
victories, over the Turks, afterwards obtained so high re- 
nown, and became so dangerous an adversary to Louis, had 
aspired to military honours, in his native country; but his re- 
quest of a regiment had been rejected, by the King; and the 
indignant prince for ever renounced the service of France, 
and sought glory under the imperial standard. He now en- 
tered Italy, with thirty-thousand troops, forced the post of 
Carpi, overwhelmed the country between the Adige and 
the Adda, and defeated Villeroy, the favourite of Louis, at 
Chiari, with the loss of five-hundred men. 

In the midst of these rapid operations, James, the exiled 
monarch of England, closed at St. Germains, his unfor- 
tunate and inglorious life. An opportunity was thus afford- 
ed, to Louis, of violating a solemn engagement. Though he 
had acknowledged William's title, by the peace of Ryswick, 
the tears and importunities of madame de Maintenon, pre- 
vailed over the counsels of his most experienced ministers; 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 225 

and he proclaimed the son of the deceased prince, king of 
England, as James III. The English partook in the indig- 
nation of their sovereign, at this wanton insult; and prepared 
to vindicate their choice, by arms. William concerted a 
triple alliance, between the empire, the United Provinces, 
and England; and hastened, by his presence and diligence, 
their formidable preparations for the field. 
17n9 But these incessant efforts exhausted a frame, na- 
' turally delicate and weak; a fall from his horse, quick- 
ened the progress of disease; and, in the fifty-second year of 
his age, after a reign of thirteen years, he yielded up his 
throne and life. His consort, Mary, having preceded him 
in her demise, the sceptre fell into the hands of Anne; (the 
youngest daughter of James II. , and wife to the prince of 
Denmark;) who despatched the earl of Marlborough to the 
Hague, to assure the allies that she would adopt the engage- 
ments entered into by William. 

That nobleman was soon afterwards appointed to com- 
mand the allied army, and displayed that military skill, 
which he had acquired under marshal Turenne. The French 
general, Boufflers, was confounded, by his rapid and com- 
plicated movements. He evacuated Guelderland, retired 
under the walls of Liege, and finally sought shelter in Bra- 
bant; while Marlborough successively reduced Venlo, Rure- 
monde, and Liege. 

It has been said, of Marlborough, what cannot be affirmed 
of any other general, either of ancient or modern times,* 
" that he never fought a battle that he did not win, nor 
besieged a town that he did not take." 

As a counterpoise to those victories, gained by the ene- 
mies of France, marshal Villars obtained a decisive adr- 
vantage over prince Louis of Baden, and also the imperial 
general, count Styrum; and Tallard defeated the prince of 
-tvnA Hesse. Villars was now recalled, to wage an inglo- 
rious war against the unhappy protestants, whom the 
persecutions of Louis had forced into a revolt; and the 
glory of France was intrusted to marshal Tallard. The 
French and Bavarians, with superior numbers, advanced to 
attack the confederates, who had effected a junction with the 
prince of Baden : but the village of Blenheim was rendered 
memorable, by the defeat of Tallard. That general was 

* The duke of Wellington, we believe, has been equally fortunatQ 
as a commander. 



£26 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

vanquished, by the duke of Marlborough, seconded by prince 
Eugene; he himself was taken prisoner, with thirteen-thou- 
sand of the bravest troops of France; twelve-thousand 
perished by the sword, or were overwhelmed in the rapid 
stream of the Danube; and, of an army of sixty-thousand 
men, scarcely twenty-thousand could be collected from its 
broken remains. 

The next day, when the duke visited his prisoner, Tal- 
lard, the marshal, intending it as a compliment, assured 
him, that he had beaten the best troops in the world: to 
which, the duke replied, "I hope, Sir, you will except 
those by whom they nave been beaten. " 
--, Q g The campaign in Flanders opened with events 
scarcely less disastrous. Near the village of Ra- 
millies, marshal Villeroy was defeated, by the duke of 
Marlborough, with the loss of one-hundred-and-twenty 
standards, and fifteen-thousand men; though the loss of the 
victors was not more than three-thousand. The court of 
Louis was filled with consternation: but the king himself 
still preserved his magnanimity: instead of reproaching, he 
endeavoured to console the unfortunate Villeroy; and, to his 
expressions of concern, replied, " People, at our time of 
life, monsieur marshal, are not fortunate." 
-i^or I" n Spain, the war had hitherto been carried on 
with various success. The French and the Austrian 
king of that country, Philip and Charles, alternately pos- 
sessed and abandoned the capital. But the battle of Almanza 
turned the scale decidedly in favour of Philip. In that 
action, the combined English and Portuguese armies were 
totally defeated, by the duke of Berwick, a natural son of 
James II., with the loss of five-thousand killed and wounded, 
and ten-thousand prisoners; and, in consequence, the pro- 
vinces of Valencia and Saragossa, as well as the capital, 
were -wrested from Charles, and brought under the sceptre 
of Philip. 

170 o That victory, in Spain, and the transient success 
of the next campaign, having revived the drooping 
spirits of the king of France, he determined to make one 
more exertion, in favour of the exiled house of Stuart. 
Seventy transports, with six-thousand troops, convoyed by 
eight men of war, sailed from Dunkirk; but the coasts of 
Britain were protected by her numerous fleet; the vigilance 
of her officers was already alarmed, and the French, after a 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 227 

fruitless attempt to land in Scotland, esteemed themselves 
happy in safely regaining Dunkirk. 

The difficulties of Louis increased, on every side. The 
British fleet captured the islands of Sardinia and Minorca, 
from the king of Spain. The taking of Lisle had opened a 
road to the very gates of Paris ; that proud city was alarmed 
and insulted by the predatory incursions of the enemy; and 
a prince, who had displayed his banners, a few years before, 
on the banks of the Danube, the Tagus, and the Po, now 
doubted whether he could remain in his capital, in safety. 
The despair of the nation was completed, by the severity 
of the winter: the olive trees were destroyed, the grain was 
cut off, and the prospect of famine threw a deeper gloom 
over the calamities of war. Louis was humbled, by his 
adverse fortune. He instructed his minister, Torry, to 
open, at the Hague, a negotiation for peace. But, though 
the king of France agreed to yield the whole Spanish mon- 
17 , q archy to Austria, and remain a silent spectator of the 

expulsion of his own grandson, Philip V., from the 
throne; to cede Furnes, Ypres, Tournay, Lisle, and other im- 
portant places of strength, as a barrier to Holland; to ac- 
knowledge the title of Anne, to the British throne; and to 
remove her brother (the pretender) from France; yet these 
concessions appeared insufficient, and the allies demanded 
that the king should assist, in driving his grandson from the 
throne of Spain. These ignominious conditions, however, 
Louis rejected, with indignation, and added, " since I must 
make war, I had rather it were against my enemies, than my 
own children." 
i 7 ii But the peace which France had in vain implored, 

by the most humiliating concessions, was now faci- 
litated, by two events, as favourable, as they were unexpec- 
ted. The first of these, was a change in the cabinet of 
England. The queen was prevailed on to dismiss her Whig 
ministers, by whom the war had been conducted, and to 
admit to her councils an opposite description of men, of the 
Tory faction; by whom, it had uniformly been opposed. 
About the same time, the emperor Joseph expired; and his 
brother Charles, the competitor of Philip for the crown of 
Spain, was raised to the imperial throne. The confederates 
had been roused to action, by the dread of uniting, in one 
hand, the sceptres of Spain and France; and they could not 
but regard, with similar jealousy, the former kingdom added 



228 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

to the hereditary dominions of Charles, and also the power 
derived bj him from the imperial crown. 

The reduction of Bouchain was the last, of the long and. 
splendid exploits of the duke of Marlborough. Having been 
recalled to England, he soon afterwards resigned his com- 
mand, and was succeeded by the duke of Ormond. But 
this nobleman, though brave, was sent over, rather to nego- 
tiate, than fight. A cessation of arms was soon proclaimed, 
between France and Great Britain; and the duke directed 
his march towards Dunkirk; which was delivered, by Louis, 
to the English, as a pledge of his intention to fulfil the pre- 
liminaries of peace, signed by his envoy. 
17<13 Relieved from the operations of the British army, 
the success of Villars was no less brilliant, than 
rapid. Open conferences for peace were held at Utrecht 
The emperor and some of the independent princes of Ger- 
many, still maintained a haughty and sullen reserve, and 
refused to sheath the sword: but separate treaties were then 
signed, by Great Britain and Holland, Prussia, Portugal, 
and Savoy; and, in the following year, peace was concluded, 
with the empire, at Radstadt. 

Philip V. (grandson of Louis XIV.) was acknowledged 
king of Spain; but, at the same time, he solemnly renounced 
all pretensions to the crown of France. Louis, for the other 
branches of the house of Bourbon, disavowed all right to the 
future succession of any part of the Spanish dominions; and 
every precaution was used, to separate, for ever, those 
kindred thrones. The king of France consented to guarantee 
the crown of Britain to the protestant line of the house of 
Hanover; to demolish the fortifications of Dunkirk, and to 
yield, acrossthe Atlantic, Newfoundland, Hudson's Bay, and 
Acadia (now called Nova Scotia:) to allow the title of king 
of Prussia, to the elector of Brandenburg, and to cede to him 
the town of Gueldres, with part of the Spanish Guelderland : 
to the duke of Savoy, was given the island of Sicily, with 
the title of king; and, in case of failure in the king of Spain 
and his posterity, he was also secured in the succession of 
the Spanish monarchy; on which condition, he renounced, for 
himself and his descendants, all right of succession to the 
crown of France. 

1715 In the preceding year, queen Anne had expired* 

" in England; and the life of Louis, who had now 

reached a venerable age, was also drawing near its end. Ill 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 229 

his last hours, he discovered an admirable tranquillity, and 
greatness of mind. "Why do you weep," said he, to his 
domestics, — "did you think me immortal!" — He had the 
courage even to acknowledge his errors; and his advice to 
his infant successor, was, to avoid that glory which he him- 
self had sought in war; and to consider the happiness of his 
people, as the principal object of his government. — He died, 
on the first of September, when he wanted only four days 
of completing the seventy-seventh year of his age; his reign 
of seventy-two years, tliree months, and seventeen days, 
being, we believe, the longest that any monarch ever enjoyed. 
He was cotemporary with four kings in Sweden, four in 
Denmark, five in Poland, five in Portugal, three in Spain, 
four in England, three emperors, and nine popes. 

By his first wife, Louis had one son, the dauphin; who 
died in the year 1711, leaving three sons, Louis, Philip, and 
Gaston; by the eldest of whom, he was succeeded on the 
throne. 

" The masculine beauty of his person," says a discerning 
author, " was embellished with a noble air; the dignity of 
his behaviour was tempered with the highest degree of affa- 
bility and politeness: — elegant, without effeminacy; addicted 
to pleasure, without neglecting business; decent, in his very 
vices; and beloved, in the midst of arbitrary power. He 
patronised the learned, with a liberal hand; and the painter, 
the sculptor, and the architect, were awoke into life, by the 
genial ray of his bounty. " 

Not only the ablest poets, but the ablest historians, also, 
have exerted their genius, in emblazoning the reign of 
Louis. To his name, has been appended the envied appel- 
lation of Great. His victories have been sung, in the choicest 
language of adulation; and the talents of the learned and 
scientific, whom he had the discernment to encourage, 
have been transferred, from the protegees to the patron. 
But, to an unprejudiced and independent mind, unaffected 
by the dazzling glare which a century has removed, little 
appears, to justify the application of Great. His actions 
stand recorded. From his deeds, let us form our judgment. 
Let us view him as a statesman, — the wars in which he so 
much delighted, were not demanded by the welfare of his 
kingdom : as a general, he displayed not a single instance 
of military skill : as a soldier, he was not brave; as a scholar, 
he was unlearned. 
U 



230 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

The despotism of the French monarchy, of which the 
foundations were laid by cardinal Richelieu, was completely 
established by Louis XIV. The reign of this prince exhibits, 
with regard to the extent of the royal authority, a remark- 
able contrast to the times immediately preceding and follow- 
ing the accession of his progenitor, Hugh Capet. Then, 
the aristocracy possessed all the power of the kingdom; the 
king was only a pageant of state; but, in the reign of Louis 
XIV., the king was every thing — all the orders of his sub- 
jects, were nothing; — and all the greatness and happiness 
of the nation, was centered in the glory of the "grand 
monarque. " 

The duke de Montausier, preceptor to the dauphin (who 
died before Louis) is said to have been the only one of that 
monarch's courtiers, who had the courage to speak the truth 
to him. When Louis one day told him that he had pardoned 
a man who had killed nineteen persons, after having been 
pardoned for the first murder that he committed; — "No 
sire," said Montausier, "he killed but one: your majesty 
killed the nineteen." 

Montausier was the first projector of the Delphin edition 
of the classics. 

France, though she at length became distinguished for her 
commerce and naval power, was late in establishing any 
permanent colony. Though a voyage had been performed, 
to the East Indies, by one of her merchants, in the year 
1601, she had as yet no settlement in that country: her 
colonies in Hispaniola were not planted until the subsequent 
reign; those in the isles of Cayenne, Guadaloupe, Martinique, 
and Granada, Bourbon, and the Mauritius, were unimportant. 

The reign of Louis presents many conspicuous examples 
of men of genius. The progress of arts and literature, kept 
pace with the improvement of manners. As early as the 
reign of Francis I. , who is styled the " Father of the French 
Muses," a better taste in composition had been introduced. 
Rabelais and Montaigne gave a beginning to the French 
prose; and French verse was gradually polished by Marot, 
Rousard, and Malherbe; while prose received new graces 
from Voiture and Balzac. Rabelais possessed great bril- 
liancy of wit, and smartness of repartee: his chief work is 
the History of Gargantua and Pantagruel; a satirical romance, 
aimed against priests and popes, fools and knaves. The es- 
gays of Montaigne are amusing, and convey much instruction 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 231 

to the heart. The poetical powers of Marot, were so highly 
esteemed, that he was called, in France, the poet of princes, 
and the prince of poets. To his fertile invention, the French 
are indebted for the madrigal and rondeau. — At length, 
Corneille produced the " Cid," and Pascal the " Provincial 
Letters;" the former of which is admired as a great effort 
of poetical genius; and the latter is still deemed an excellent 
model of prose composition, as well as of delicate raillery 
and sound reasoning. — Corneille was followed by Moliere, 
Racine, Quinault, Boileau, and La Fontaine.* The real 
name of Moliere, was Pocquelin. His father, who was a 
tapestry-maker to the court, intended him for his own busi- 
ness. The boy, however, being frequently taken, by his 
grandfather, to the theatre, acquired so great a taste for 
dramatic representations, that it excited in him contempt 
for tapestry-making; and he was sent to study, under the 
Jesuits, at the college of Clermont. He afterwards applied 
himself to the law; but, after his father's death, he renounced 
all other employments, for the stage, and assumed the name 
of Moliere, which he has rendered so illustrious. He ex- 
hibited before the king, and with so much success, that he 
received a pension; and continued, from that time, to enter- 
tain the court, with a rapid succession of new plays. The 
last comedy, produced by him, was Le Malade Imaginaire, 
or the Hypocondriac; and, on the fourth night of its being 
acted, the author died. It has been said, that he exerted 
himself much in the chief character, and that, as, in a part 
of the play, the actor pretends to be dead, Moliere was dis- 
covered to be, not only a theatrical, but a real corpse. It 
is, however, certain, that, during the representation, the au- 

* Rabelais was born in 1483, and died in 1553. 

Montaigne 1533, 1592. 

Marot 1496, 1523. 

Rousard 1524, 

Malherbe 1555, 1628. 

Voiture 1598, 1648. 

Balzac 1594, 1654. 

Corneille 1606, 1684. 

Pascal 1623, 1662. 

Moliere 1620, 1673. 

Racine 1639, 1699. 

Quinault 1635, 1688. 

Boileau 1636, 1711. 

La Fontaine 1621, 1709. 



232 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

thor had a severe defluxion on his lungs, and, half an hour 
afterwards, expired. 

CHAPTER V. 
LOUIS XV. 

1715—1774. 

THE last two monarchs of France, Louis XIII. and Louis 
XIV., a sketch of whose reigns has just been concluded, 
were minors, when they became entitled to the throne — 
the former in the ninth, the latter only in the fifth year of 
his age: — a third instance of minority now occurred, in the 
succession of Louis XV., a grandson of the immediately 
preceding king; who had not yet completed his sixth year. 

Disregarding the will of the deceased monarch, whom, 
when living, they had feared and obeyed, the parliament of 
Paris conferred the sole executive authority upon the duke 
of Orleans, nephew of the late king; who had appointed him 
only head of the regency, with a casting vote. 

The early measures of his administration, are well deserv- 
ing of our praise. They afforded the most favourable anti- 
cipations of his judgment, his equity, and moderation. But 
. " - _ the tranquillity, which his pacific disposition promised 
' * to maintain, was soon interrupted, by the intriguing 
genius of cardinal Alberoni, first minister of Spain. That 
statesman now formed the design of recovering Sardinia 
from the emperor; of wresting Sicily from the duke of Savoy, 
contrary to the treaty of Utrecht; and of establishing the 
pretender on the throne of England. But, while the 
Spaniards urged the siege of Messina, they were surprised, 
by the appearance of a British squadron: the fleet of Spain 
was defeated, and the remnant that escaped the pursuit of 
the victors, abandoned the hopeless enterprise against Sicily, 
and sought shelter in their own harbours. 

The duke of Orleans had declared war against Spain, in 
concert with the English. The forces of France were 
intrusted to the duke of Berwick, (natural brother of the 
pretender) whose victories had formerly contributed to place 
the sceptre in the hands of Philip. He successively reduced 
Fontarabia and St. Sebastian; and Spain, overwhelmed by 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 233 

disasters, both by sea and land, consented to sue for peace. 
The conditions were dictated by the regent . He insisted 
that Philip should dismiss his minister; and Alberoni was 
delivered to the French troops, and conducted to the fron- 
tiers of Italy; having obtained, by his splendid designs, only 
the character of a rash and inconsiderate projector. Font- 
arabia and St. Sebastian were restored to Spain, but Sicily 
was transferred to the emperor Charles; and the dukes of 
Savoy, in exchange, acquired Sardinia; which island, with 
the title of king, they have ever since possessed. 

The Parisans were this year gratified by a visit of Peter 
the Great. Seeing the superb mausoleum of cardinal Riche- 
lieu, in the Sorbonne, the view of so grand an object, asso- 
ciated with the character of the illustrious individual to whose 
honour it had been erected, threw him into an enthusiastic 
rapture. The Czar ran to the statue, and, embracing it, 
exclaimed, " Oh! that thou wert yet living! I would give 
thee one half of my empire, for governing the other." 

To notice every occurrence in this eventful reign, would 
be inconsistent with our design. 
1 720 ^ ne financial project of a Scotchman, named Law, 

by which the royal bank and the citizens of France 
were involved in one extensive ruin, yields, at this remote 
period of time, to events of more general interest. Nor 
does the short administration of the profligate cardinal 
Dubois, demand any greater share of our attention. 
Ijaa The king had now attained that age which had 

been fixed for his majority; the regency of course 
expired, and the duke of Orleans assumed the title of minis- 
ter. After his death, that office was committed to the 
feeble administration of the duke of Bourbon-Conde. But 
the reins of government soon afterwards dropped from his 
inefficient hands, into those of cardinal Fleury. This pre- 
late had been appointed, by the late king, preceptor to his 
infant grandson; and, at the age of seventy-three, he devoted 
the remains of a life, which, hitherto, had merited the public 
esteem, to the ungrateful toils that attend ministerial power. 
At a period of life, when the most ambitious seek repose, he 
entered the lists of fame. Yet he himself was distinguished 
for his simplicity and modesty; and with reluctance, had 
exposed his virtuous manners to the contagion of a court.— 
Every one has read the story ot Diogenes, carrying, in the 
midst of day, a lantern, in search of an honest man. Thi* 
u2 



234 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

subject was chosen, by an ingenious painter, to exhibit the 
character of this minister, in a most striking manner ; the 
cynic philosopher being represented, by the artist, as having 
found, what he had rather conceived in his imagination, than 
supposed actually to exist, in the person of cardinal Fleury. 
The pacific disposition of Fleury, corresponded with the 
immediate interests of France. He made no innovations: 
he tried no political experiments. Sensible that a nation 
will spontaneously apply itself to those pursuits that are 
best adapted to its circumstances and condition, he quietly 
left the kingdom to repair its losses, and to enrich itself, 
by an extensive and advantageous commerce. Yet, when 
j~gg the death of Augustus, king of Poland, and the claim 
of Stanislaus, the father-in-law of Louis, had rekin- 
dled, throughout Europe, the flames of war, the cardinal was 
not deficient in supporting the policy of his royal master. 
The emperor bent before the storm, and received the condi- 
tions of peace imposed by the victorious arms of France. 
Ijaq The ensigns of war, were soon, however, again 
unfurled. The death of the emperor, Charles VI., 
the last prince of the house of Austria, awakened the pre- 
tences of the several potentates of Europe. Maria Theresa, 
the emperor's eldest daughter, married to Francis of Lor- 
raine, grand duke of Tuscany, claimed, by right of blood, 
and by the guarantee of the different European powers, 
including Louis himself, the whole of the Austrian succes- 
sion. But, that princess, though allowed peaceably to take 
possession of this vast inheritance, was not without competi- 
tors. The elector of Bavaria, and the king of Sardinia, 
claimed each some part of the succession; the kings of Spain 
and Poland, and even Louis himself, urged their pretensions 
to the whole. Yet, Maria Theresa felt more secure from 
the competition, than alarmed at the number of the claimants. 
She was engaged in traversing, in favour of her husband, the 
designs of Louis — who, despairing of establishing his own 
claim, entertained hopes of dismembering the Austrian 
dominions, by fixing the crown upon the head of the elector 
of Bavaria — when she was surprised, by the invasion of a 
new and unexpected pretender. Claiming four dutchies in 
Silesia, the king of Prussia, Frederick III. (honoured, after- 
wards, with the title of Great) suddenly entered that coun- 
try, defeated the Austrians, near Molnitz, and occupied the 
whole of the Silesian dutchy. 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 255 

The victory of Molnitz was the signal for a general war. 
The blood of thousands, who fell in the ensuing contest^ 
betrayed the indifference with which monarchs can trifle with 
human life. Now in his eighty-fifth year, cardinal Fleury 
was little inclined to relinquish his pacific system, and in- 
volve the kingdom in the ambitious strife: but he was over- 
powered, by the impetuous eloquence and enterprising spirit 
of the two brothers, the marshal and the chevalier Belleisle. 
A treaty of partition was negotiated with the king of Prussia; 
by which, France and Prussia agreed to make the elector 
of Bavaria emperor, by the title of Charles VII. ; and to 
give him Bohemia, Upper Austria, and the Tyrolese; and 
Louis appointed the elector, his lieutenant general, and the 
marshals Belleisle and Broglio to a subordinate command. 
The success of the French was rapid and transient. The 
king of England was induced to conclude a neutrality, as 
elector of Hanover, for his German dominions: the confe- 
derates surprised Passau, obtained possession of Litz, and 
menaced Vienna. The elector of Bavaria was chosen em- 
peror, at Frankfort, under the title of Charles VII. But 
jealousy already prevailed, amongst the allies: the French 
army, in its progress, continually diminished, by sickness 
and desertion: George II., distinguishing between the ca- 
pacity of king of Great Britain and elector of Hanover, 
resolved, as the former, to support the queen of Hungary; 
and the very day on which Charles was proclaimed emperor, 
at Frankfort, he received intelligence that Lentz had been 
recovered, by the Austrian general, Khevenhuller, though 
defended by ten-thousand veteran troops of France. 

Even this disaster was soon forgotten, in an event more 
important, and more fatal. The king of Prussia, having 
defeated the Austrians, at Czaslaw, with his usual sagacity 
seized the moment of victory, to conclude an advantageous 
peace, at Breslaw; which left him in possession of Upper 
and Lower Silesia, with the county of Glatz. The French 
- -ac were compelled to make a precipitate retreat. The 
hostile armies were thus transferred from the banks 
of the Danube, to the Rhine; and cardinal Fleury, oppressed 
by increasing years, and the disappointments of his country, 
closed a life, that would have terminated more gloriously, 
before the commencement of the war. The king, on his 
decease, resolved to be his own minister, and his own com- 
mander-in-chief. The king of England had already taken 



236 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

the field, with forty-thousand English, Hanoverians, and 
Austrians, under the command of the earl of Stair. At the 
village of Dettingen, near the banks of the Mayne, he was 
attacked by marshal Noailles. Had the French occupied 
the neighbouring heights, the confederates must have sur- 
rendered, at discretion; but their ardour precipitated them 
upon the allies, and their temerity was chastised by a severe 
defeat. 

j 744 Louis himself invaded Flanders; and, seconded 
by the duke of Noailles, and count Saxe, (a natural 
son of Augustus, king of Poland) who, by his exploits, 
rivalled the fame of Conde and Turenne, successively re- 
duced Menin, Ypres, and Furnes. But, from this scene of 
conquest, he was soon recalled, to the defence of his own 
dominions. Prince Charles of Lorraine had passed the 
Rhine, at the head of sixty -thou sand Austrians, had taken 
Wiesenberg, and laid all lower Alsace under contribution. 
The king, however, depended not on his own arms, alone, 
for the defence of Alsace. He had negotiated a new alliance, 
with the king of Prussia; and Frederick, sensible that if the 
queen of Hungary should again acquire the ascendency, 
the treaty of Breslaw would prove a feeble barrier against 
her ambition, once more penetrated into Bohemia, and ex- 
tended his ravages as far as Moldaw. 

The alarm of the French had scarcely subsided, when 
they were seized with one of a different nature; which 
spread consternation throughout the whole nation. On the 
eighth of August, the king felt some symptoms of fever; and, 
on the fourteenth, was declared to be in imminent danger. 
The intelligence of his illness, reached Paris in the middle 
of the night. The inhabitants rose from their beds, and ran 
about, in great disorder, without knowing whither they went. 
The churches were opened, though at midnight; nor did the 
people any longer regard the time of sleeping, waking, or 
eating. AH Paris seemed distracted; and the houses of the 
public officers were surrounded, by a continual crowd. In 
many of the churches, the priests, who read prayers for the 
king's recovery, interrupted the supplication by their tears, 
and the people responded to them with sobs and cries. The 
courier who brought the news of the king's recovery to Paris, 
on the nineteenth, was embraced, and almost stifled, by the 
people. They kissed his horse, and led him about in 
triumph. When Louis was informed of these uncommon 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. Q$T 

transports, he melted into tears, and, raising himself up, in 
his bed, exclaimed — "What a pleasure it is, to be thus 
beloved ! What have I done, to deserve it?" 

The death of, the emperor Charles VII., in the ensuing 
year, was an event unfavourable to Louis. His son, Maxi- 
milian Joseph, concluded, through the medium of the king 
of England, a treaty with the queen of Hungary; which es- 
tablished him in the peaceable possession of the electorate 
of Bavaria, and rejected the alliance of France, which had 
proved so injurious to his father; and the court of Versailles 
had, soon afterwards, the mortification of beholding Francis 
of Lorraine, the consort of the queen of Hungary, invested 
with the imperial dignity, at Frankfort. Yet Louis still 
obstinately pursued the war. Accompanied by the dauphin, 
he now animated the troops, by his presence. Under the 
command of marshal Saxe, they laid siege to Tournay, one 
of the strongest towns in the Austrian Netherlands. The 
duke of Cumberland, at the head of the combined troops, 
marched to its relief; and a memorable battle took place, on 
the twelfth of May, at Fontenoy. 

The king never showed more gaiety, than on the eve of 
this engagement. The conversation ran upon battles, at 
which kings had been present. Louis observed, that, since 
the battle of Poictiers, no king of France had fought in com- 
pany with his son; that no one had ever gained a signal 
victory over the English, and that he hoped to have that 
honour, the first. In the morning, he was awoke, before 
any of his officers. At four o'clock, he himself called up 
count D'Argenson, secretary of war; who immediately sent 
to marshal Saxe, to demand his last orders. The marshal 
had been, for some time, in a deep consumption. He was 
found in an ozier litter, which served him for a bed; and in 
which he was carried, when so much exhausted, as to be 
obliged to quit his horse. At six, in the morning, the can- 
nonading began. The English attacked Fontenoy, twice; 
and the Dutch presented themselves twice before Antoine. 
In their second attack, almost a whole squadron of the latter 
having been mowed down, by the cannon, they never after- 
wards rallied. By the misconduct of general Ingoldsby, in 
neglecting to seize a redoubt, the favourable moment was 
lost, to the English army. The duke of Cumberland, how- 
ever, determined to pass between this redoubt and Fontenoy, 
The ground was steep: it was necessary to clear a broken 



238 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

hollow way, and he was obliged to march between two fires. 
The enterprise was daring; but he was reduced to the alter- 
natives, either to attempt the passage, or quit the field. The 
English and Hanoverians advanced with him, drawing their 
cannon themselves, through the foot-paths, and almost with- 
out disordering their ranks. Whole companies fell, on the 
right and left. They were immediately recruited, and 
marched on fiercely, having six pieces of artillery in their 
front, and six also in the middle of their lines. 

They had now approached within fifty yards of the French 
and Swiss guards. The English officers saluted the French 
officers, by pulling off* their hats. The count de Chabane, 
and the duke de Biron, who were in advance, and all the 
other French officers, returned the salute. Lord Charles 
Hay, captain of the English guards, cried out, " Gentlemen 
of the French guards, fire. " The count D'Anteroche replied, 
in a loud voice, " Gentlemen, we never fire first — fire your- 
selves." — The English gave them a running fire, by which, 
nine officers, and two-hundred-and-thirty-four privates were 
killed, and forty -four of the former, and six-hundred-and- 
thirty of the latter, wounded. Amongst the slain, was the 
duke de Grammont, first lieutenant general, and nephew of 
the duke de Noailles. The remainder of the guards dis 
persed. The English advanced slowly, as if performing their 
exercise; the majors, with their canes, levelling the soldiers' 
guns, to make them fire low and straight. They broke in 
upon Fontenoy and the redoubt. Closing, by the nature of 
the ground, they became a long and dense column, impreg- 
nable, from its mass, and repulsed, one after another, every 
regiment that attacked it. 

Seeing, with calm courage, the greatness of the danger, 
marshal Saxe sent a message to the king, conjuring him to 
repass the bridge, with the dauphin; and assuring him that 
he would do all in his power to remedy the disorder. — " O! I 
am very confident that he will perform his duty," replied the 
king; "but I will remain where I am." 

From the moment that the French and the Swiss guards 
were routed, there was nothing but astonishment and con- 
fusion, throughout the French army. Marshal Saxe ordered 
the cavalry to fall upon the English. The count D'Estrees 
undertook the charge; but their efforts produced little effect, 
against a body of infantry, so united, so disciplined, and so 
intrepid, and who kept up a constant running fire. Marshal 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 239 

feaxe was in the midst of this. He was so weakened, by his 
disorder, that he could not bear a breast-plate: he wore a 
sort of buckler, made of several folds of quilted taffety, 
which rested upon the pommel of his saddle. On this occa- 
sion, he threw down his buckler, and flew to make the second 
line of the cavalry advance, against the assailing column. 
All the field-officers were in motion. The assailants march- 
ed over the dead and wounded of both parties; and seemed 
to make one single impenetrable corps, of about fourteen- 
thousand men. 

A great number of the cavalry were thrown into disorder, 
close to the place where the king was, with his son. These 
two princes were separated, by the crowds of those who fled, 
and threw themselves in between them. Marshal Saxe, 
though quite exhausted, continued still on horseback, riding 
through the ranks, in the midst of the firing. Every attempt 
made by him, to penetrate the English column, was repulsed. 
He went to see if Fontenoy still held out. The bullets of its 
defenders were all spent, and they returned the fire of the 
enemy, only with powder. But the English infantry were, by 
this time, greatly weakened. They were even astonished, to 
find themselves in the midst of the French, without any caval- 
ry: they seemed to remain immoveable, and no longer under 
orders; but they displayed a good face, and appeared masters 
of the field of battle. Had the Dutch passed, as ordered, 
between the redoubts which lay towards Fontenoy and 
Antoine — had they given proper assistance to the English — 
no resource had been left, not even a retreat for the French 
army, nor, probably, for the king and the dauphin. The 
success of a last attack, was uncertain. Some pieces of can- 
non were at length brought to bear against the enemy's front. 
The regiment of Normandy and the carbineers, seconded by 
the Irish troops, penetrated through the front ranks of the 
column. It was attacked, simultaneously, in the front, and 
on both the flanks. In seven or eight minutes, this formi- 
dable corps was opened, on both sides. General Ponson- 
by, and a great number of other British officers, were killed. 
The English rallied, but were obliged to retire; and quitted 
the field of battle, without tumult or confusion, and, after a 
most glorious display of military prowess, were overcome 
with honour. 

Tournay, after a siege of two months, opened its gates to 
the victorious army; and the example was followed by Ou- 



240 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

denarde, Dendermonde, Ostend, Nieuport, and the principal 
fortified places through Austrian Flanders. 

The success of the house of Bourbon, in Italy, and of the 
Prussian monarch, in the north of Europe, was not less 
rapid and decisive. But it was the intention of the sagacious 
Frederick, to protect, not to aggrandize the Bourbons. Feel- 
ing no longer any dread from the Austrian power, he con- 
cluded a second treaty with the queen of Hungary; which, 
on acknowledging the validity of Maximilian's election, 
guaranteed to him the possession of Silesia. 

France was astonished at the repeated desertions of so 
powerful an ally. But Louis was encouraged to persevere, 
by the projection of a new enterprise; which, at first, pro- 
mised the most decisive advantage. This was, the aiding 
of the house of Stuart, in remounting the British throne. 
Though frustrated in his bold attempt, in the preceding reign, 
the chevalier St. George, had not yet yielded to despair: he 
still cherished a sanguine hope of wresting the British sceptre 
from the family of Guelf; and now, under the patronage of 
the king of France, he confided his fortunes to his son, 
Charles Edward; who, having arrived at Paris, from Rome, 
and successfully traversed the seas, with a single vessel, 
landed, with a few adherents, on the coast of Scotland. His 
career was, for a while, most brilliant. Having marched 
to Perth, the chevalier was there proclaimed king of Great 
Britain; and, on the seventeenth of September, Charles en- 
tered Edinburgh, and took possession of the royal palace 
of Holy -rood-House. On the twenty -first, with an inferior 
number of half-armed highlanders, he attacked the royal ar- 
my, near Preston-Pans, and totally defeated them, with the 
loss of their colours, artillery, tents, baggage, and military 
chest. He soon gained possession of nearly all Scotland. 
The number of his followers daily increased; he received 
considerable supplies of warlike munitions from France; and, 
with a body of about five-thousand men, made an irruption 
into England; invested Carlisle, which, in a few days, sur- 
rendered; and, at length, entered the town of Derby, distant 
only one-hundred -and -twenty miles from London. In the 
capital, all was terror and suspense. The desperate enter- 
prise seemed almost accomplished. The tyranny of the 
Stuarts appeared on the eve of being revived. But the 
gallant young adventurer was not supported, in England, as 
he had expected: his officers advised him to return; and, on 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 241 

.-,£ the sixteenth of April, he encountered the duke of 
Cumberland, on Culloden Moor; where, after a vi- 

forous resistance, he was defeated, with the loss of twelve- 
undred men. This was the last attempt, in favour of the 
Pretender. The cause of the exiled family, here expired. 
Having dismissed his followers, he wandered, in wretched- 
ness and solitude, amongst the isles and mountains, for the 
space of five months; in which time, he underwent a series 
of hardships, miseries, and dangers, such as it is scarcely 
credible that a human being could withstand. At length, a 
privateer, hired by some Irish adherents, appeared on the 
coast; on board of which, the young prince embarked, on the 
twentieth of September: and, after passing, unseen, during a 
thick fog, through a British squadron, and being chased by two 
6hips of war, he arrived, in safety, near Morlaix, in France. 
1747 ^ ie S ame °f war — t ne favourite pastime of kings 
—was continued, in Italy, and the Low Countries, 
with vacillating success. But, at sea, the losses were all on 
the side of France. The English had begun to exert them- 
selves, on that element, on which they have so repeatedly 
triumphed. The marquis de la Jonquire yielded ten vessels 
of war, to the admirals Anson and Warren; and L'Esten- 
deure, six ships of the line, to admiral Hawke. 

In America, the people of New -England had taken the 
island of Cape Breton; and the king of France, while he 
beheld his marine annihilated, and his commerce ruined, 
was alarmed, by the lowering of a tempest, in a new and un- 
expected quarter. Influenced by the gold of England, fifty 
thousand Russians prepared to add new horrors to the storm 
of war. Louis, therefore, hastened the negotiations for 
peace, which had been unsuccessfully commenced, at Breda; 
and, on the seventh of October, a treaty was concluded, at 
, 748 Aix-la-Chapelle; by which, Great Britan, France, and 
Spain, agreed to a mutual restitution of their con- 
quests; and the contracting parties guaranteed, to the king 
of Prussia, the dutchy of Silesia, and the county of Glatz; 
which Frederick had then in his possession. 

The war which had so long afflicted Europe, was suc- 
ceeded by seven years of peace; which short interval may be 
considered, as the most prosperous and happy period, that 
Europe had ever known. Arts and letters were successfully 
cultivated; manufactures and commerce flourished; and the 
manners of society assumed, each day, a higher polish. 



24£ HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

But Louis, who had consented to the treaty of Aix-la-Cha- 
pelle, only to restore his navy, ceased not, during the season 
of peace, to meditate new wars; and prepared to dispossess 
the English of their principal settlements, both in America 
and the East Indies. From the moment that the treaty of 
Aix-la-Chapelle was concluded, Dupleix, governor of Pon- 
dicherry, on the coast of Coromandel, a man active, intelli- 
gent, and enterprising, conceived the design of advancing 
the interest of the French East India Company, by acquiring, 
for France, a large territorial possession, in the south of Asia. 
But the progress of the French had awakened the jealousy 
of the East India Company of England. An attempt of M. 
Dupleix, to impose a governor or nabob upon Arcot, excited 
the English to arms: in the neighbourhood of Tritchenopoli, 
the French and their native allies were finally defeated, by 
Colonel Clive; the pretensions of Chunda-Saib, whose cause 
they had espoused, were extinguished, in his blood; his rival, 
Mahommed Ali, was established, by the English, on the 
throne of Arcot; M. Dupleix was soon afterwards recalled; 
and a cessation of arms agreed on, by the hostile powers. 

Meanwhile, the ambitious hopes of Louis were flattered, 
by the insidious enterprises of his governors in North Ameri- 
ca. Their plan was to unite, by a chain of forts, the two 
extensive colonies of Canada and Louisiana; and to confine 
the English to that narrow tract, which lies between the Al- 
leghany mountains and the sea. This project was pursued 
with ardour and judgment. Forts were erected along the 
lakes, which communicate with the river St. Lawrence, and 
also on the Ohio and the Mississippi; and the chain was 
almost completed, when the English, alarmed at those rapid 
encroachments, determined to unsheath the sword. 
* 7 zK The execution of this measure, was no less vigor- 
ous, than prompt. The British cruizers swept the 
seas, with so much success, that above three-hundred trading 
vessels, belonging to France, with more than eight-thousand 
seamen, were carried into the ports of England. 

But, from the great superiority of his land forces, Louis 
still cherished the hope of accomplishing his gigantic project- 
General Braddock, who had been intrusted with the chief 
command of the British and colonial troops, in America, had 
been allured, by the French and Indians, into an ambuscade, 
within a few miles of one of the new works, called Fort du 
Quesne; (now Pittsburg;) where he expiated his rashness 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 243 

with his life; and his whole force, of twelve -hundred men, 
would have fallen victims to his inexperience of savage war- 
fare, had not the survivors been withdrawn, by the superior 
skill and coolness of colonel Washington; who, on that 
occasion, acted as aid-de-camp to the general, and leader of 
the Virginia troops. 

On the banks of lake George, Dieskau, who commanded 
the French forces, in America, with a detachment of two- 
thousand men, was exposed to a similar fate: yet France 
still maintained, on that continent, her ascendency, and Eng- 
land was reduced to wage a feeble and defensive war. 

Numerous bodies of troops, drawn, by Louis, towards 
the seacoast, continually alarmed the opposite shores of 
England. These served to cover the secret intentions of 
the French, who aspired to the conquest of Minorca; an 
island in the Mediterranean, formerly wrested, by Great 
Britain, from the crown of Spain. The armament, for that 
purpose, consisted of fifteen -thousand land-forces, comman- 
ded by the duke of Richelieu; with twelve ships of the line 
and five frigates, under the marquis Gallisoniere. The 
troops were disembarked, and immediately invested the 
castle of St. Philip, which commands the town and harbour 
of Mahon. The English had detached admiral Byng, to 
the relief of the island, with a squadron equal to that of 
France; and Gallisoniere soon afterwards engaged the British 
admiral, in an indecisive action. The former returned, to 
block up the port of Mahon; the latter withdrew to Gib- 
raltar; and, on his recall to England, expiated, with his life, 
the stain which his cowardice had fixed on the naval glory 
of his country; while the garrison of St. Philip, deserted, in 
the time of their distress, and destitute of hope, surrendered, 
after a siege of nine weeks; and the island of Minorca, sub- 
mitted to the dominion of France. 

1 _ r _ The satisfaction afforded to Louis, by this acqui- 
' ' sition, was allayed by domestic dissensions, and also 
by an attempt against his life. Francis Damiens, an un- 
happy wretch, whose sullen mind was inflamed by the dis- 
putes between the king and the parliament, relative to 
religion, embraced the desperate resolution of assassinating 
his sovereign. In the dusk of the evening, as the king was 
preparing to enter his coach, he was suddenly wounded, 
though slightly, between the ribs, in the presence of his son, 
and in the midst of his guards. The daring assassin had 



244 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

mingled with the crowd of courtiers, but was instantly be- 
trayed, by his distracted countenance. In his frantic and 
incoherent declarations, he persisted, during the most exqui- 
site tortures; and, after human ingenuity had been exhausted, 
in devising new modes of torment, his judges consigned him 
to a death, the inhumanity of which is increased by the evident 
madness that stimulated him to the fatal act. 

"I have heard it said," relates Madame du Hausset,* in 
her private memoirs, "that the king proposed having Da- 
miens shut up in a dungeon, for life: but that the horrid 
nature of the crime, made the judges insist upon his suffer- 
ing all the tortures inflicted upon similar occasions. Great 
numbers, many of them women, had the barbarous curiosity 

to witness the execution; amongst others, Madame de P , 

a very beautiful woman, and the wife of a farmer general. 
She hired two places, at a window, for twelve louis, and 
played a game of cards in the room, while waiting for the 
execution to begin; in which way, I have been told, that she, 
and others, thought to pay their court to the king, and sig- 
nalize their attachment to his person. " 

Louis still persisted in his resolution of attacking the elec- 
toral dominions of the king of England. The duke of 
Cumberland was compelled, by the marquis d'Estrees, at 
the head of superior numbers, to retire behind the Weser; 
and was afterwards driven, by the duke of Richelieu, under 
the walls of Stade. Surrounded, on every side, he was 
there reduced to the necessity of signing the singular con- 
vention of Closter-Seven; by which, an army of thirty-eight- 
thousand Hanoverians, Hessians, and other troops, in the 
pay of his Britannic majesty, was dissolved, and distributed 
into different quarters of cantonment, without being disarm- 
ed, or considered prisoners of war. 

With the capitulation of Closter-Seven, the fortune of 
France expired; and that event, which promised the most 
brilliant advantage, was succeeded by five years of con- 
tinual defeat. In Hanover, the rapacity of the duke of 
Richelieu exhausted the subjected country. A demand, 
from the court of France, of the arms of those troops who 
had capitulated, aroused their indignation, and they assem- 
bled, from their several cantonments, under prince Ferdi- 
nand of Brunswick; whom the king of England had invested 

* Lady's maid to Madame de Pampadour, the celebrated mistress 
of Louis XV. 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 245 

with the chief command of his electoral forces. Dispersed 
and unprepared, the French were successively expelled from 
Otterberg, Bremen, and Verdun; and the duke of Richelieu, 
better qualified to shine at court, than in the field, with the 
wretched remnant of his once victorious army, repassed, 
with difficulty, the Rhine, before a body of men whom he 
had so lately vanquished. Marshal de Contades, also, was 
signally overthrown, by prince Ferdinand, at Minden. The 
pride of France was completely humbled. Pressed on every 
side, the court of Versailles implored the aid of the kindred 
crown of Spain; and induced the reigning monarch, Charles 
III., son of Philip V., to sign the celebrated family com- 
pact; an alliance, which, with the single exception of the 
American trade, naturalized, in the dominions of the house 
of Bourbon, the subjects of each crown; and stipulated that 
the kings of France and Spain should look upon every power 
as the enemy of both, which became the enemy of either. 

Yet, the assistance of Spain was feeble and inadequate. 
Louis was still doomed to witness the unavailing slaugh- 
ter of his subjects, and the curtailment of his empire. Belle- 
isle, an island situated between Port-Louis and the mouth 
of the Loire, was reduced, by an armament from England: 
Chandernagore, also, a settlement on the banks of the Gan- 
ges, experienced the same fate; and general Lally, driven 
from the walls of Madras, was reduced to seek shelter 
within the fortifications of Pondicherry; which place, the 
last possession, of any importance, remaining to the French, 
on the coast of Coromandel, that officer was, after a gallant 
resistance, compelled, by famine, to surrender. 

Nor were the arms of France more fortunate in the west- 
ern hemisphere. Louisburg, garrisoned by nearly three- 
thousand troops, under the command of the chevalier 
Drucourt, being attacked by admiral Boscawen, and the 
generals Amherst and Wolfe, he was at last under the ne- 
cessity of surrendering, with his whole garrison; and the 
island of Cape Breton, shared the fate of its capital. The 
forts of Ticonderoga, Crown-point, and Niagara, soon after- 
wards lowered their banners; the British standard was at 
-j 7 _q length seen proudly waving over the lofty walls of 
Quebec; where the gallant general Wolfe fell, lament- 
ed by his admiring country; and the marquis de Montcalm, 
after displaying equal skill and courage, perished on the 
field, with above a thousand of his bravest men. With the 
x 2 



246 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

capital, the whole province of Canada, was soon transferred 
to the invaders. Of all her settlements in North America, 
the town of New-Orleans, and a few plantations on the Mis- 
sissippi, alone remained, to France; while, in the West-In- 
1762 di es » t ae powerful armaments of the English wrested 
from her the islands of Guadaloupe and Martinico; 
in Africa, she was driven from her forts and factories on the 
river Senegal: and afterwards, the grandeur and prosperity 
of the house of Bourbon, were shaken, to their very base, by 
the storming of the Havana— the principal seaport in the is- 
land of Cuba, the key of the gulf of Mexico, and the centre 
of the Spanish trade and navigation in the new world. 

But, it was at sea, that the house of Bourbon beheld its 
lofty hopes finally overwhelmed. The marquis du Quesne, 
M. de la Clue, and M. de Conflans, were respectively con- 
strained to yield to the superior skill of admirals Osborne, 
Boscawen, and Hawke. So repeated disasters humbled the 
pride of Louis. His finances were exhausted, his commerce 
at a stand, his marine destroyed. Happily for him, the Eng- 
lish ministry were equally disposed for peace. William 
Pitt, (better known, subsequently, as the earl of Chatham) 
the ablest politician in Europe, having been opposed, in the 
council, by his colleagues, had resigned the helm of state; 
and the earl of Bute, unequal to fulfil the duties of pilot, 
amidst the storms of war, listened, with readiness, to the 
proposals of the court of Versailles; and plenipotentiaries 
were deputed, to assemble at Fontainbleau. The great 
outlines of the treaty, were soon adjusted; as both parties 
agreed to withdraw, entirely, from the German war, and 
mutually to restore the places which they had taken. But 
France ceded to Great Britain, Canada; reserving the right 
of fishing on the banks of Newfoundland; and retaining the 
small islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon. The king of 
Prussia soon afterwards concluded a treaty with the empress- 
queen; by which, all the conquests, on both sides, were re- 
stored; and, after a tedious and bloody war, the tranquillity 
of Europe was, once more, happily re-established. 

Escaped from the fury of the foreign tempest, it might 
reasonably have been expected, that the caution and vigilance 
of Louis would have been exerted, to avoid the rage of do- 
mestic storms. But adversity had not taught him modera- 
tion. His reign was destined to prove equally inimical to 
the happiness of his people, and to the despotic power of his 



HrSTORY OF FRANCE- 247 

successor. The times had become enlightened: men, in that 
philosophic age, had discovered that the divine right of kings 
was but a fable. Their own rights were ascertained, declared 
loudly to the world, and maintained, with a boldness and re- 
solution, which no sophistry, on the part of the court, could 
overturn, no threats or imprisonment restrain. The parlia- 
ments of France, particularly those of Paris and Rouen, 
offered as strenuous opposition to the tyranny of Louis XV., 
as the commoners of England had displayed, against the 
illegal measures of Charles 1. 5 and the political horizon 
began already to be darkened, with those clouds, which 
burst, with accumulated violence, on the head, and shook, 
to its very foundation, the throne of his grandson. 

"The subject," says the parliament of Rouen, in a re- 
monstrance addressed to the king, "has a right to the easiest 
and least burthensome mode of contributing to the wants of 
the state. This right, which is founded in nature, belongs 
to every nation in the world, whatever may be its form of 
government: it is principally the right of the Franks, and, 
in a more especial manner, of the province of Normandy. 
The Norman charter furnishes, on this head, the most 
respectable monuments of our national immunities. We 
there find, that no tax can be laid on your subjects of this 
province, unless agreed to, in the assembly of the three es- 
tates. This charter subsists, in its full force: it makes a part 
of your people's rights, which you swore to maintain, before 
Him, by whom kings reign. " 

Amidst these convulsions, the dauphin of France expired, 
in the thirty-seventh year of his age. By his second mar- 
riage, with Maria Josepha, of Saxony, he had three sons, the 
duke of Berri, the count of Provence, and the count of 
Artois, and also two daughters; all of whom survived him. 
i 7 c.q The next subject, requiring notice, is the enter- 
prise of Louis against Corsica. The people of this 
island had resisted, with manly firmness, the oppressive 
councils of the Genoese, who claimed the sovereignty of the 
island, by right of conquest. But Genoa, unable to support 
her pretensions, transferred them, on certain conditions, to 
France. To execute his engagements, twenty battalions of 
French troops were landed in Corsica; and the inhabitants, 
who had summoned Paoli, one of their principal chiefs, to 
the supreme government of the island, determined to defend 
their liberties, to the utmost of their strength. A sharp and 



248 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

bloody war was carried on, in all the fastnesses and moun- 
tainous parts of the island; and it was not till after Louis 
had fatally experienced, in two successive campaigns, the 
enthusiastic courage which animates the champions of free- 
dom, that he overwhelmed, by his superior numbers, this 
unfortunate people, and, with the loss of several thousand 
of his bravest troops, only extended his dominion over a 
rugged and unproductive island. 

-,-rjQ In the following year, the dauphin (grandson of the 
king of France) received the hand of Maria Antoi- 
nette, a daughter of Maria Theresa, and sister to the emperor 
of Germany. But even these nuptials, which promised to 
cement the alliance of France with the house of Austria, were 
attended with events the most inauspicious. The crowd 
that hastened to be spectators of the fire-works, displayed, on 
this occasion, at Paris, tumultuously pressed upon each 
other: those who were foremost, sunk down, by the weight 
of increasing numbers, behind; and it is supposed that about 
a thousand persons perished, in the dreadful confusion, be- 
sides double that number, who were miserably bruised and 
maimed. 

1 ^^ 4 A reign of fifty-nine years, was now hastening to 
' ' * a close. Being attacked by the small-pox, the igno- 
rance of his physicians co-operated with the virulence of the 
disease; and, on the tenth of May, in eight days after its 
first appearance, the French monarch resigned his life, in 
the sixty -fifth year of his age. 

Such, was the fate of Louis XV. The appellation of " well- 
beloved," which had been conferred upon him, in the early 
part of his career, was effaced, by thirty years of rapacity, 
profusion, and lascivious excess. His example had loosened 
the bands of morality, his prodigality had exhausted the cre- 
dit and resources of the country, and his wanton pride had 
trampled upon the remnant of the constitution. In his ex- 
terior, nature had been kind to him. He resembled his 
grandfather, Louis XIV., in the strength and agility of his 
frame, and in his portly and majestic stature. 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 249 

CHAPTER VI. 

LOUIS XVI. 

Revolution.—- Destruction of the Bastile. 
1774—1792. 

LOUIS XVI. succeeded to the throne of his grandfather, 
at the age of twenty. In the exercise of the royal authority, 
his first acts induced a lively expectation of a happy reign. 
He remitted the tribute which was expected on the accession 
of a new monarch; he removed from office those persons 
whose inability or oppressive conduct, had rendered them 
disagreeable to the nation; and recalled the count de Maure- 
pas, who had formerly occupied the marine department, but 
who, for three -and -twenty years, had been banished from the 
court. This statesman, however, now more than seventy 
years of age, declined the resumption of his former station; 
and, with a seat in the privy council, without any particular 
office, influenced the most important concerns of govern- 
ment. The seals were delivered to M. Meromesnil, presi- 
dent of the parliament of Rouen; the count de Vergennes 
was called to preside over the foreign department, Males- 
herbes became counsellor of state, and the count de Muy, 
afterwards created a mareschal, was nominated secretary 
of war. 

Following the dictates of his own beneficence, Louis re- 
formed the penal code of France, which then savoured of 
the barbarous times in which it had originated: he abolished 
the use of torture; and restored to freedom, with a few ex- 
ceptions, those prisoners of state, the mournful inhabitants 
of the Bastile and other fortresses, who had been immured 
through the jealousy of the preceding monarch. 

Several schemes of economy were, at the same time, in- 
troduced. The price of bread, which had risen to an 
excessive height, was, by the prudent management of the 
ministry, reduced; and those, who, in the confusion of the 
last reign, had largely speculated in corn, were now per- 
suaded to bring it into market. Such attentions could not 
fail to command the gratitude of the populace; and, when- 
ever the king appeared in public, he was greeted with their 
acclamations. Yet, one circumstance was wanting, to esta- 



250 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

blish the popularity of Louis. France still sighed for the 
restoration of her ancient parliaments; and, when the duke 
of Orleans, and his son, the duke of Chartres, joined in the 
public sentiment, upon this important question, they were 
exiled from the royal presence. The people were stunned, 
by this imprudent stroke. They considered the two dukes 
as victims to the public good. NVheu Louis next presented 
himself to the inhabitants of Paris, instead of the usual 
marks of applause, he was received with awful silence; and 
the young monarch soon perceived, that he could preserve 
the affections of his subjects, only by a ready compliance 
with their wishes. The exiled princes were recalled; and 
the king commanded an edict to be registered, which re- 
established the ancient parliaments, and for ever suppressed 
the new. But Louis viewed the proceedings of these popular 
assemblies, with a jealous eye. He endeavoured still to pre- 
serve the royal authority, undiminished; and was equally 
averse, with his predecessor, to grant them any power, that 
could possibly curtail his own. 

The death of pope Ganganelli, Clement XIV. who had 
filled the apostolic chair with great prudence and modera- 
tion, was an event generally regretted, by the countries 
which yet acknowledged the dominion of the holy see. His 
pontificate had been rendered memorable, by the abolition 
of the society of Jesuits; and a vague and idle rumour had 
pervaded Europe, that he had fallen a sacrifice to the effects 
of poison. The vacant dignity was warmly contested. It 
was not until the ensuing year, that the electoral conclave 
fixed the tiara upon the head of John Angelo Braschi, a na- 
tive of Ravenna; who assumed the name of Pius VI. 
. jjf. The elevation of M. Turgot, to the chief direction 
of the finances, afforded no small share of discontent, 
to the farmers general of the taxes. Endued with integrity 
and ability, that minister had delivered the commerce of 
grain from many vexatious restrictions; but a scarcity of 
corn happening to coincide with the moment of his regula- 
tions, those effects, which arose from dearth, were ascribed 
to the operation of his measures; and the people, incited by 
his enemies, tumultuously assembled, in large and formidable 
bodies. They insulted the magistrates, plundered the 
houses, and not only destroyed lar^e quantities of corn and 
flour, but increased the general distress, by deterring the 
venders of provisions from bringing them to market. Their 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 251 

rage became exasperated, by the destruction which they 
themselves produced. To check their progress, it was ne- 
cessary to command the assistance of regular troops; yet, 
the hungry insurgents for some time maintained their ground, 
against the disciplined valour of their opponents; andnearly 
five-hundred of those wretches had fallen, before they relin- 
quished the unequal conflict. 

The death of the mareschal de Muy, who had filled the 
office of secretary of war, was succeeded by the appointment, 
to that department, of the count de St. Germain; a noble- 
man, who, during the last war, had enjoyed a high command, 
in the north. He now allowed but a short time to elapse, 
before he distinguished his administration by the boW. and 
energetic measure of disbanding the Mousquetaires; a corps 
instituted for the protection of the royal person; which, 
being composed of young men of the most illustrious extrac- 
tion, too frequently insulted the humbler class of citizens, 
by their overbearing spirit. The naval department was in- 
spected, with equal diligence and care. When the admi- 
nistration of the duke de Choiseul expired, and his cousin, 
the duke de Praslin, was dismissed from superintending the 
marine, the appointment of M. de Sartine, to this depart- 
ment, did honour to the penetration of the king. One 
appointment more was necessary, to display the royal mind 
free from prejudice, and open to the impression of intrinsic 
merit. M. Turgot, though upright and attentive to his duties, 
had not been fortunate in commanding the public confidence. 
James Necker, a native, of Geneva — by birth, a foreigner, 
and by religion a protestant — was called to preside over the 
treasury; and trusted with the sole management of the fiscal 
concerns of France. His talents were assiduously employed, 
to deserve applause; and, under his direction, a reform was 
introduced, into every department of the revenue. 

With equal zeal, to extend the dominion of science, 
Louis fitted out several vessels, for astronomical discoveries. 
The chevalier de Borda was instructed to ascertain the ex- 
act position of the Canary Islands, and the Cape de Verds, 
and the different degrees of the coast of Africa, from Cape 
Spartel, to the island of Goree: the chevalier Grenier, who 
had traversed the Indian seas to improve the charts and 
correct the errors, by which former navigators had been 
misled, was liberally rewarded, by a monarch, who aspired 
to Immortalize his reign, by expeditions beneficial to mankind. 



252 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

The attention of the French nation, had gradually been 
diverted from domestic affairs, and was at length fixed* solely 
upon occurrences in the western hemisphere. Aroused 
by the attempts of the parent country, to exercise over her 
North American plantations a legislative authority, incon- 
sistent with their chartered rights, Thirteen of the British 
colonies had boldly resisted the usurpation, and severed the 
maternal tie. A favourable opportunity seemed thus pre- 
sented, to enable France to dismember the empire of her 
powerful rival, and regain those provinces in America, which 
nad been conquered from her by Great Britain. The colo- 
nists awakened the latent desires of Louis, in regard to their 
repossession. He opened a willing, though a cautious ear, 
to their application for assistance. Fearful that the opposi- 
tion of the colonial patriots, would be ineffectual, against the 
veteran army and powerful navy, the awakened pride and 
inexhaustible resources of her ancient rival, the aid afforded 
them, by France, was, for a long time, clandestine in its 
character, and trifling in its extent. At the head of the 
colonial armies, was placed colonel Washington 5 a gentle- 
man possessed of large estates, in Virginia; and who, by his 
fortitude and resolution, integrity and able conduct as a sol- 
dier, justified the wisdom of the appointment, and added a 
never-fading wreath, to the laurels, already won by him, 
in repelling the inroads of savage war. 

On the fourth of July, 1776, the colonies declared their 
Independence, and assumed the title of the Thirteen United 
States. Three agents from the confederation, Silas Deane, 
Benjamin Franklin, and Arthur Lee, had successively ar- 
rived at Paris; and, though all audience was denied them, 
in a public capacity, still they were privately encouraged 
to hope, that France only waited for a proper opportunity, 
to vindicate, in arms, their freedom and independence. 
French officers and engineers, with the connivance of go- 
vernment, entered into the patriotic service; and the marquis 
de la Fayette, a young nobleman of affluent fortune, and 
nearly allied to the illustrious house of Noailles, now only 
in his nineteenth year, though positively interdicted by his 
sovereign, hired a frigate, and, impatient to join the stan- 
dard of liberty, steered towards America; where he was 
received with open arms, appointed to a principal command, 
and soon afterwards, at the Brandy wine, under the banners 
of the immortal Washington, shed his first blood, in a cause, 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. £53 

to the successful termination of which, in the course of a 
long and sanguinary war, he contributed most important 
aid. But, neither the declaration of their independence, in 
the council, nor the heroic obstinacy with which it was as- 
serted in the field, was sufficient, for a long time, to alter 
the timid policy of France. The capture, by the American 
commander-in-chief, of a thousand Hessian troops, at Tren- 
ton, though a brilliant, was not a paralyzing stroke given to 
the British arms. The court of Versailles awaited, with 
most patient observation, the crisis of the important strug- 
gle. That crisis at length arrived. Saratoga, where the 
flower of the royal forces, under Burgoyne, surrendered to 
general Gates, was the scene of an achievement, which 
seemed to place the success of the American congress be- 
vond a doubt. The intelligence of this signal victory, was 
nailed, by the French ministers, with joy. Canada seemed 
again united to the Gallic crown. All hesitation, with re- 
gard to their interference, was now removed; and the queen 
who had long seconded the applications of the American 
agents, espoused their cause, with increasing ardour, and 
-with less reserve. 

.~-,g On the sixth of February, a treaty was signed, by 
the United States and Louis, on the basis of a perfect 
reciprocity of interest. The French monarch guaranteed 
their commerce and independence; and any other powers, 
that might have received injuries from England, were in- 
vited to join in the alliance. 

But,in this treaty with the revolted provinces, other coun- 
sels prevailed, over the private opinion of Louis. Whether 
dreading the expense of a ruinous war, whether alarmed 
already at the progress of democratic principles, or desirous 
of observing good faith with England, he considered that 
there ought to be a stronger motive for war, than barely the 
opportunity of waging it with success: — he, therefore, 
almost alone, opposed a measure, which was finally demon- 
strated to be a great political error, as regarded the dignity 
and safety of his crown. 

The recall of lord Stormont, the English ambassador at 
Versailles, was the signal for the commencement of hostili- 
ties, by Great Britain, against France. 

But Louis had already prepared for this event. In the 
month of April, the count d'Estaign, who, during the course 
of the last war, had, in the East Indies, maintained the 
Y 



254 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

glory of his country, sailed, from Toulon, for the American 
coast, with twelve ships of the line, and several frigates. 
On board the fleet, were eight-hundred soldiers; and also 
M. Gerard, appointed minister plenipotentiary to the Uni- 
ted States. 

From the continent of America, the flame of war was 
rapidly communicated to the West India Islands. Domi- 
nica was quickly taken, from the British, by the marquis 
of Bouille; St. Vincents, by the chevalier Rumain; Grenada, 
by the count d'Estaign. But the English arms, on the other 
hand, were not without a proportionate share of success. 
St. Lucia was wrested from the dominion of France; D'Es- 
taign experienced a severe repulse, and was wounded, at 
Savannah; and, in the East Indies, his country was again 
stripped of all her possessions, except the islands of Mauri- 
tius and Bourbon. 

- _ 7 q But, for these reverses, France received ample com- 
pensation, in her negotiations, in Europe. Aroused 
from the neutrality, hitherto observed by him, the Spanish 
monarch now resolved to fulfil the conditions of the cele- 
brated "family compact;" and, after having presented a 
memorial to the court of St. James, in which were enume- 
rated a hundred insults, alleged to have been offered to his 
sovereign, by England, his ambassador quitted London, and 
returned to Spain. 

The combined navies of the house of Bourbon, presented 
a most formidable sight. Sixty-six vessels of the line, en- 
tered the British channel, scattering terror and dismay 
throughout the English coasts; and, to increase the embar- 
rassment of her enemy, Spain, with a considerable army, 
formed the siege of Gibraltar; a fortress of Andalusia, whicn, 
situated on a rock, and occupied by the British, had long 
derided the attempts, and wounded the pride of the Spanish 
court. But every effort made against its defences, proved 
abortive. An almost incessant firing, for more than three 
years, by the Spanish batteries, and a most tremendous as- 
sault, by the combined forces of France and Spain, under the 
command of the duke de Crillon, in which were exhausted 
all the destructive power, and all the terrific grandeur of. 
the art of war, was sustained by general Elliot, with unpa- 
ralleled fortitude, and repulsed with amazing loss, 
i^fto '^ ne ca P* ure °f Charleston, by the British army, 
' * had excited considerable alarm, throughout the 



1 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 255 

United States. The American Congress had solicited, in 
the strongest terms, the further aid of France 5 and Louis 
detached, in the beginning of May, from Brest, the count 
de Rochambeau, with tweive-thousand chosen troops, and 
the chevalier de Ternay, with seven ships of the line, and 
several frigates. These arrived, about the middle of June, 
at Rhode Island. The' insular section of this province, had 
been assigned, by the United States, to their allies, as a 
place of arms; and count Rochambeau, while he waited an 
expected reinforcement, employed his troops in repairing 
and augmenting the defences. He had, soon afterwards, 
reason to congratulate himself, on this precaution. General 
Clinton and admiral Arbuthnot, having returned, from the 
reduction of Charleston, to New-York, formed a plan of 
attack, against the French fleet and army: but their designs 
could not elude the penetration of general Washington; he 
rapidly crossed the Hudson, with twelve-thousand men; and 
general Clinton, perceiving the danger to which his absence 
must expose New-York, relinquished his attempt against 
the island. 

The accession of so large a body of veteran troops, pro- 
duced a cheering influence upon the republican ranks. 
Shortly afterwards, the prospect was still further brighten- 
ed, by the addition of another enemy, to England. Having, 
by the capture of an American packet, obtained possession 
of a treaty of amity and commerce, between the republics 
of Holland and the United States, Great Britain, at the close 
of the year, commenced hostilities against the Dutch, 
j-o. Yet, still, the result of the American contest, 
seemed doubtful. By a failure of co-operation, on 
the part of their European allies; the congressional army had 
not hitherto received, from the presence of the French ves- 
sels of war, all that benefit, which they had reasonably 
expected. On this charge, even the gallant admirals, de 
Guichen and d'Estaign, are not wholly free from censure. 
It was happy for the cause of liberty, that such a man as 
Washington had been intrusted with the chief command; 
and that he was seconded, in his' heroic efforts, by such 
leaders as Green, Sullivan, and Gates; Wayne and Mor- 
gan; St. Clair, Knox, and La Fayette. 

But, the clouds which had lowered so heavily over the 
destinies of the United States, began, before the close of the 
present year, to pass away. Harassed by numerous bodies 



256 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

. of American troops, and weakened by the effects of a sickly 
climate, the British general, Cornwallis, notwithstanding 
his activity and valour, was unable to continue his operations, 
in the open field. He established his place of arms at York- 
town, situated on the south side York River, in Virginia; 
which, as it was navigable for ships of great burthen, ena- 
bled him to receive succours and support, by sea. 

This post, lord Cornwallis diligently applied himself to 
fortify. But the hour was rapidly approaching, destined to 
terminate the career of that commander; and, by a decisive 
blow, finally to establish the independence of the United 
States. By a series of the most artful address, general Wash- 
ington had deceived his antagonist Clinton; count de Rocham- 
beau had passed over from Rhode Island, and, in conjunction 
with the American army, menaced New- York; that city, 
with its dependencies, was kept in a continual state of alarm, 
for above six weeks; when the combined army, of French 
and Americans, rapidly traversed New-Jersey, crossed the 
Delaware, passed through Philadelphia, and, having arrived 
before Yorktown, proceeded closely to invest lord Cornwal- 
lis, who occupied that station, with seven-thousand troops. 

Meanwhile, the count de Grasse, with his fleet, from the 
West Indies, arrived in Chesapeake Bay. After blocking 
up York River, and occupying James River, to a consider- 
able distance, by his skilful maneuvres, he not only pre- 
cluded lord Cornwallis from any retreat to the Carolinas, 
but was also enabled to convey, in security, the marquis de 
Saint Simon, with a large body of land forces, from the 
West Indies, eighteen leagues up the latter river; where he 
formed a junction with the marquis de la Fayette, who had 
already been reinforced, with succours from Pennsylvania, 
under general Wayne. 

The fleet of the count de Grasse, consisted of twenty -four 
ships of the line; the British squadron, commanded by ad- 
mirals Greaves and Hood, which, during these operations, 
appeared at the entrance of the Chesapeake, amounted only 
to nineteen. Under the present circumstances, de Grasse 
considered itunadvisable to hazard much. Though he stood 
out to sea, and engaged the English fleet, he was satisfied 
with maintaining the honour of his flag; and, without enter- 
ing into a general battle, he returned to his former station, 
in the Bay. 

Having surrounded lord Cornwallis, on every quarter, 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. Q57 

the assailants began to urge their attack upon the English 
works, with a vivacity that precluded every hope of relief. 
Sixteen-thousand men vied with each other, in their reduc- 
tion. They were penetrated by a hundred pieces of heavy 
ordnance: the defences were in many places ruined; and 
most of their guns were silenced. Every preparation was 
made, for a general assault. But this scene of carnage was 
averted, by the prudence of the British general; who, sensi- 
ble of his hopeless situation, resolved not to sacrifice, wan- 
tonly, the lives of his gallant men: he accordingly opened a 
negotiation; by which, the troops under his command became 
prisoners of war. 

Such, was the decisive achievement of America and 
France; which may be considered as ultimately sealing the 
independence of the United States. 

It was not the elder branch alone of the house of Bour- 
bon, that triumphed on the northern continent of America. 
An armament, fitted out, by Spain, at the Havana, pene- 
trated into West Florida; and the land troops having invest- 
ed Pensacola, the British governor, after a gallant defence, 
was, on account of the weakness of the garrison, compelled 
to surrender not only that capital, but also the whole pro- 
vince. 

The gratification, felt by the people of France, at these 
successes, was, in some degree, alloyed, by the dismissal, 
from office, of M. Necker. This minister had not rendered 
himself equally acceptable to the sovereign, as to his sub- 
jects. The frequent retrenchments recommended by him, 
particularly in the expenses of the royal household, having 
been represented as inconsistent with the dignity of the 
crown, he was removed from his office of controller-general, 
and M. Joli de Fleury appointed in his place. 
1782 ^ e ^vantages obtained, at the close of the last 
campaign, were diligently improved by the ministers 
of Louis. The siege of Minorca, undertaken in the prece- 
ding year, was terminated, in the beginning of the present, 
by the surrender of the island, to the duke of Crillon. 

We have but slightly noticed the operations of the hostile 
navies. Yet, never had so great activity been shown, at sea, 
as during the present war. Never had the French and 
English fleets contended with so much gallantry, or been so 
nearly equal, in the combat. Too much honour cannot be 
conferred upon the commanders of the former nation, Suf- 
Y 2. 



258 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

frein and de Grasse; nor upon those of the latter, Rodney 
and Hood. The capture of the army, under lord Cornwal- 
lis, had insured the independence of the United States; and 
the subsequent operations, upon land, were confined to some 
faint struggles, made by the English, in the Carolinas and 
Georgia. France was now at leisure to direct her attention 
to the East and West Indies; and deGrasse had steered his 
course from the Chesapeake to Martinique. With the mar- 
quis de Bouille, who had already erected the standard of 
France on the Island of Nevis, he planned an attack upon 
St. Christopher's; which, by the vigilance and enterprising 
ardour of that commander, was crowned with complete 
success. 

But, that prosperous fortune which had hitherto attended 
the enterprises of France, soon afterwards deserted her. 
On the 12th of April, de Grasse and Rodney found them- 
selves drawn up in presence of each other; the former with 
thirty-three ships of the line, the latter with thirty-six. 
The space of sea, which was to serve as the field of battle, 
is contained between the islands of Guadaloupe, Dominica, 
the Saints, and Maria-Galante. The action lasted from 
seven in the morning, till seven at night. Never did war- 
riors, the most inflamed with the desire of victory, display 
more desperate valour, or more determined resolution, than 
the French and English, on this memorable day. The 
broadsides, from their rapid succession, appeared continual. 
Through the dense smoke that covered the two fleets, no- 
thing was seen but the lightning of their guns; nothing was 
heard but the thunder of artillery, and the crash of the shi- 
vered spars. But the wind all at once proved unfavourable 
to the French. Their line, after a most furious assault, and 
sanguinary resistance, was broken, at every point. The 
count de Grasse bore a heavy fire, for a long time, from 
the Barfleur of ninety guns, commanded by admiral Hood : 
and it was not until after a terrible destruction on board his 
vessel, the Ville de Paris, and only himself and two more 
were left standing on the upper deck, that he_consented, at 
last, to strike. Four other vessels of the line, were forced 
to surrender; one of which, soon afterwards, caught fire, and 
blew up; the marquis de Vaudreuil then collected part of 
the scattered fleet, and, with nineteen ships of the line, es- 
caped to Martinique. 

The Ville de Paris was considered as one of the fairest 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 259 

ornaments of the French marine. She had been presented to 
Louis XV., by his capital, at the epoch of the disasters occa- 
sioned by the war of Canada; she carried one-hundred-and- 
ten guns, and cost four-millions of livres. 

The English lost, in this battle, and in another that had 
occurred three days before, upwards of a thousand men: 
the loss of the French, without reckoning prisoners, was 
considerably more. 

The marquis de Vaudreuil, upon whom the chief command, 
in the West India seas, now devolved, was not inattentive 
to the interest of his country. Rising under the pressure 
of calamities, he detached M. La Perouse, with three ships 
of war, against the remote possessions of the Hudson's Bay 
Company, in the north. This enterprise was conducted, by 
that celebrated navigator, with not less fortitude, than skill. 
For three weeks, after he had passed the islands of Resolu- 
tion, which mark the entrance into Hudson's Straits, he 
was incessantly exposed to new and imminent peril. Notwith- 
standing the power of the sun, in the month of July, the 
ships, for some time, were so fast locked up, in the ice, that 
the seamen passed, from one to another, on foot. They had 
lost all hope of reaching the destined object, before the en- 
suing year. But, so severe a trial of their constancy was 
prevented, by the appearance of a small opening, in the ice; 
through this, the ships forced their way, with a press of sail ; 
and they were afterwards gratified with the joyful sight of 
the English colours flying over a fort, on Churchill River. 
If the toils and dangers of the approach had been great, some 
compensation was afforded, by the facility of the conquest. 
The works were garrisoned only by a small number of store- 
keepers and clerks; who surrendered, on the first appearance 
of the enemy. A few sought shelter in the woods; and 
Perouse, having, by the destruction of the forts and merchan- 
dise, completed the object of his expedition, had yet the 
humane precaution to preserve one of the magazines; in which 
he deposited, provisions, arms, and ammunition, for their use; 
as, during the long winter, then approaching, they could not 
receive any relief from home. 

Unparalleled exertions were made, in France, to open 
the ensuing campaign with an overwhelming force. The 
ambition of the sovereign was responded by the sympa- 
thetic ardour of the people. The nobility, the citizens, 
the clergy, persons of every rank and condition, vied with 



260 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

each other, in furnishing contributions to the state. But, 
amidst this patriotic ardour, in providing the thunderbolts 
of war, the contending nations were once more blessed, by 
the voice of peace. The ministers of Great Britain, whose 
imprudence and incapacity had involved their country in 
hostilities, as disastrous in the conclusion, as they were im- 
politic in the beginning, were, at length, by the clamours of 
the multitude, and the indignation of parliament, removed 
from the public councils, and were succeeded by men who 
no longer indulged the chimerical idea of controlling the in- 
dependence of America. The freedom of that continent, 
had been the grand object of France. The defeat in the 
West Indies, and the repulse at Gibraltar, were still deeply 
impressed on the mind of Louis. Much might be lost, 
nothing valuable could be gained, by a continuance of the 
war. These considerations having induced him to listen 
to the proffered mediation of the two first potentates of Eu- 
rope, the emperor of Germany, and the empress of Russia, 
the count de Vergennes was appointed to treat with Mr. 
Fitzherbert, the English minister, at Paris. 
■tyao The way had been already smoothed, for the restora- 
tion of a general peace, by provisional articles, signed 
at the conclusion of the last year, between the American 
states and Great Britain. 

By these, the freedom, sovereignty, and independence, of 
the Thirteen United States, were, in the fullest and most 
express terms, acknowledged. 

This primary object was no sooner attained, than the count 
de Vergennes quickened the negotiations of his own court; 
and, on the twentieth of January, signed preliminary arti- 
cles of peace; which were succeeded, on the third day of 
September, by a definitive treaty. 

By this, France acquired an extent of fishery on the coast 
of Newfoundland, and the restitution in that quarter, of St 
Pierre and Miquelon. In the West Indies, England re- 
stored to her, the island of St. Lucia, and ceded the island 
of Tobago; but France consented to relinquish, in return, 
the island of Grenada and the Grenadines; and also St Vin- 
cent, Dominica, St. Christopher's, Nevis, and Montserrat. 
In Africa, France was invested, in full right, with the river 
Senegal, and all its dependencies; and obtained also the 
restitution of Goree; but, on the other hand, she guaranteed 
to Great Britain, the possession of Fort James, and the river 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 261 

Gambia. In the East, France regained, with considerable 
additions, all that had been wrested from her, in the course 
of the war; and, in Europe, where she could not acquire an ex- 
tension of dominion, she received, by the abolition of some 
restrictions, an accession of dignity and honour. 

Nor was the other branch of the house of Bourbon, neglect- 
ed, on this occasion. Unused as she was, to victory, Spain 
now tasted the sweets of acquisition. Though baffled and 
repulsed before Gibraltar, her pride was soothed, by the 
cession of Minorca; and also the fertile provinces of East and 
West Florida: yet, some retribution was made, by the re- 
storation, to Great'Britain, of the Bahama Islands. 

But, however exalted the present situation of France might 
appear, the elements of future commotion were already 
apparent, to the eye of an accurate observer. The applause 
that had attended the parliament of Paris, in its struggles 
with Louis XV., may be considered as the first indication of 
freedom. The language of that assembly had boldly incul- 
cated, to the people, their natural rights, and taught them to 
be less dazzled with the lustre of a throne. The causes of the 
signal change in the sentiments of the French nation, are 
various. The human mind had been progressively improved. 
The veil of superstition had been rent asunder. The writings 
of Montesquieu, Raynal, and Rousseau; of Voltaire, Bailly, 
and Button; of Condorcet, Diderot, and d'Alembert; had 
taught mankind to think. The war in the United States, 
also, had contributed to enlarge the political ideas of the 
French. They had, on that occasion, stood forth as the cham- 
pions of liberty, in opposition to regal power; and the officers 
who had acted on that conspicuous stage, accustomed to 
think and to speak, without reserve, on their return imparted 
their liberal sentiments to the provinces of France. From 
that moment, the French, instead of silently acquiescing in 
the edicts of their sovereign, discussed every measure, with 
acumen and boldness; while the attachment of the army, always 
considered as the sole foundation of despotism, yielded to 
an enthusiastic admiration of freedom. 

We have already noticed the public dissatisfaction, that had 
attended the dismissal of M. Necker. M. de Fleury had been 
succeeded by M. d'Ormesson; whose administration expired 
in the same year that it had commenced. On his retreat, M. 
de Calonne was nominated to the post of controller-general. 
Flexible and insinuating, eloquent in conversation, and 



262 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

polished in his manners; fertile in resources, and liberal in 
the disposal of the public money; he soon rendered himself 
acceptable to the court, and acquired the favour of the king. 
But he was not equally favoured by the people. He was 
reported to be more able than consistent; and the nation, 
amidst repeated loans, regretted the severe simplicity that 
had characterized the administration of M. Necker. 
j -04 Yet, the first operations of M. Calonne, extorted 
general approbation. It was his bold and judicious 
measures, that had restored credit to the Caisse d'Escompte; 
the only incorporated banking company, then in France; and 
which had stopped payment, a few weeks before his acces- 
sion. But, the principal act of the ensuing year, was not 
equally favourable to his popularity. For many years, 
France had been without an East India company; and the 
increase of business, caused by the exertions of individual 
merchants, appeared a sufficient proof of the advantages 
derived from an unshackled trade; yet, notwithstanding 
the benefits which had accrued from this liberal policy, by 
a resolution of the king, in council, a new company was 
chartered, and the monopoly restored. 
- -„„ This was the first measure that subjected the con- 
duct of the minister to reproach. But the time wa9 
now rapidly advancing, when the necessities of the state 
would compel him to use expedients, still more unpopular. 
Though peace had been re-established, throughout Europe, 
for three years, yet the treasury of France seemed little 
replenished, by this interval; and it was found requisite to 
close every year with a loan. The public expenditure of 
the present year, might probably seem to sanction this 
measure. It had been thought proper to fortify Cherbourg, 
upon a large and magnificent scale: the claim of the em- 
peror, to the navigation of the Schelde, had obliged the 
French to increase their land forces, in order either to form 
a respectable neutrality, or effectually to assist their Dutch 
allies; and the marquis de Castries, fond of war, and pro- 
fuse in his designs, had not suffered the navy, which M. 
Sartine had surrendered into his hands, to decay, during the 
interval of peace. 

Sensible of the disastrous state of the public revenue, 
Louis did all he could, to contrive a remedy. He limited 
his personal expenses, and those of his household, with a 
rigour which approached to parsimony, and dimmed the 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 263 

necessary splendour of his throne. He abolished many 
pensions, and, by so doing, not only disobliged those who 
were deprived of the enjoyment of those gratuities, but lost 
the attachment of a much more numerous class of expectants, 
who served the court, in the hope of obtaining similar grati- 
fications, in their turn. Lastly, he dismissed a very large 
proportion of his household troops, and body-guards; afford- 
ing another subject of discontent to the nobles, out of whose 
families these corps were recruited; and destroying, with 
his own hand, a force devotedly attached to the royal person. 

But, when the edict for registering the loan, at the con- 
clusion of the last year, was presented to the parliament of 
Paris, the murmurs of the people, seconded by that assembly, 
assumed a deep and formidable tone. The parliament exhi- 
bited a steady opposition. They refused compliance with the 
royal will; and even insisted that a true account of the state 
of the finances, and of the purposes to which the sums in 
question were to be applied, should previously be laid before 
them. The king, however, compelled the edict to be regis- 
tered: but the ceremony was accompanied by a resolution 
of the parliament, that "public economy was the only genuine 
source of abundant revenue, and the only means of restor- 
ing that credit, which borrowing had reduced to the brink 
of ruin." The royal pride, was wounded, by this remon- 
strance. The king erased it from the records; declared that 
he would not consent that they should so far abuse his confi- 
dence and clemency, as to erect themselves into censors of 
his administration; and the more strongly to mark his dis- 
pleasure, he directed the dismission of one of their officers who 
had appeared the most active in forwarding the resolution. 

The situation of the minister was distressing. He was 
more mortified by the opposition of the parliament, than gra- 
tified by the approbation of the king. To impose new taxes, 
was impossible; to continue the plan of borrowing, was ruin- 
ous; to have recourse only to economical reforms, would be 
found wholly inadequate: M. de Calonne, therefore, declar- 
ed, that it would be impractiable to place the finances on a 
solid basis, unless by reforming whatever was vicious in the 
constitution of the state. He perceived that the parliament 
was neither a fit instrument for introducing a new order 
into public affairs, nor likely to submit to be a passive machine 
for sanctioning the plans of a minister, even were those plans 
the emanation of perfect wisdom. Though originally a body 



264 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

of lawyers, constituted only for the administration of justice, 
and indebted for their appointment to the king, there was 
not an attribute of a genuine legislative assembly, that they 
did not seem desirous of engrossing to themselves; and they 
had been supported by the plaudits of the people, who were 
sensible that there was no other body in the nation, that could 
plead their cause, against the oppression of the court. The 
only alternative that seemed to remain, was to have recourse 
to some other assembly, more solemn in its character; which 
should resemble the parliament of England, and consist, in 
a greater degree, of members from the various orders of the 
state, and the different provinces of the kingdom. This 
promised to be a popular measure, as it implied a deference 
to the people at large. But, the true and legitimate assem- 
bly of the nation, had not been convened since the reign of 
the thirteenth Louis, in the year 1614; nor could the minister 
flatter himself with obtaining the royal assent to a meeting, 
which would be regarded with secret jealousy, by a sove- 
reign possessing despotic power. Another assembly had 
occasionally been substituted, in the room of the states- 
general; distinguished by the name of Notables, and consist- 
ing of a number of persons, selected chiefly from the higher 
orders of the state, and nominated by the king himself. 
This assembly had been convened by Henry IV., and again 
by Louis XIII.; and was now summoned, by the authority 
of the present monarch. 

The writs for assembling the notables, were dated on the 
twenty-ninth of December. They were addressed to seven 
princes of the blood, nine dukes and peers of France, eight 
field marshals, twenty-two nobles, eight counsellors of state, 
four masters of requests, eleven archbishops and bishops, 
thirty-seven chief officers of the law, twelve deputies of 
states, and twenty-six magistrates of the different towns of 
the kingdom; the whole number of members being one- 
hundred-and-forty-four. 

17ft7 On the twenty-second day of February, M. de 
Calonne opened, to the assembly, his long expected 
plan. He recommended a territorial impost, in nature of 
the English land-tax, from which no rank or order of men 
was to be exempted; an inquiry into the possessions of the 
clergy, which hitherto had been deemed too sacred to bear 
their proportion of the public burthen: the various branches 
of internal taxation were also to undergo a strict examination; 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. £65 

and a considerable resource was presented, in mortgaging 
the demesne lands of the crown. 

The ancient nobility, as well as the clergy and magis- 
trates, had always been free from every public assessment; 
and, had the evil gone no further, it might still have been 
borne, with patience; but, through the shameful custom of 
selling patents of nobility, such crowds of new noblesse had 
started up, that every province of the kingdom was filled 
with them; and thus, the whole weight of the taxes, fell upon 
those who were the least able to pay them. There were, 
in the kingdom, about eighty -thou sand families enjoying the 
privileges of nobility; and, of about one-thousand houses, of 
which the ancient noblesse is computed to have consisted, 
not above two or three hundred had retained the means of 
supporting their rank, without the assistance of the crown. 

But the privileged orders, of which the Notables princi- 
pally consisted, were not sufficiently patriotic, to allow any 
portion of the public burthen to be shifted from the backs of 
the people, to their own. Not only the proposed method 
of increasing the revenue, but the very necessity of the in- 
crease itself, was combated, with energetic boldness. Its 
principal opponents were the celebrated count Mirabeau, 
and M. de Brienne, archbishop of Toulouse. The minister 
was much embarrassed. Finding it impossible to stem the 
opposing torrent, M. de Calonne not only resigned Ins place, 
on the twelfth of April, but soon afterwards retired to Eng- 
land, from the storm of persecution. The appointment of 
the archbishop, to the office of controller-general, though it 
preserved the appearance of good humour in the assembly, 
failed to obtain for the court, the object of its wishes. The 
proposition of a territorial impost, was rejected; and the 
king seeing no prospect of gaining relief from the convention, 
dismissed the meeting. 

The financial contest was fast hastening towards a crisis. 
Louis was now compelled to recur to the usual mode of rais- 
ing money, by royal edicts. Amongst the measures pro- 
posed, for this purpose, was a stamp-duty, and the doubling 
of the poll-tax. The whole were strongly disapproved, by 
the parliament of Paris; but the last was the particular ob- 
ject of contention; and that assembly, in the most positive 
terms, refused to register the edict. The king used, as the 
last resort, his absolute authority; and, by holding what was 
called a bed of justice, a sort of parliament, in which he 



266 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

himself presided, in person, compelled them to enrol the 
impost. 

The parliament, though defeated, were far from being sub- 
dued. They entered a formal protest, against the extorted 
concession. They declared that it neither ought, nor should 
have any force; and that the first person who presumed to 
carry it into execution, should be adjudged a traitor, and 
condemned to the galleys. 

The authority which had been so long exercised by his 
predecessors, Louis would not consent to surrender, without 
a struggle. About a week after the parliament had entered 
the protest, an officer of the French guards, with a party of 
soldiers, went to the house of each individual member, to 
signify to him the king's command, that he should imme- 
diately proceed to Troyes, a city of Champagne, about 
seventy miles from Paris; and, before the citizens were ac- 
quainted with the transaction, the parliament were on the 
road to their place of banishment. 

It is generally believed, that the queen contributed much 
to induce her husband to persist in the exercise of arbitrary 
power; and the king's brother, the count d'Artois, who had 
expressed himself, in the most unguarded terms, against the 
perseverance of the parliament, stood exposed to all the 
hatred of a sensitive and insulted people. 

Nor was it in Paris, alone, that the flame of liberty was 
rekindled. The provincial parliaments imitated that of the 
capital: the parliament of Grenoble passed a decree against 
lettres de cachet,* the most odious engine of arbitrary power: 
and declared the execution of them, within their jurisdiction, 
to be a capital crime. 

The resolute firmness of his subjects, could not be with- 
stood, by the vacillating monarch. To regain their affec- 
tions, after the exile of a month, he consented to restore the 
parliament of Paris; and also to abandon the project of a 
territorial impost; and the parliament, on their side, con- 
sented to register an edict, by which the archbishop of Tou- 
louse was created first minister of state. 

But this harmony was not of long duration. The neces- 
sities of the state continued; nor could the deficiencesin the 
revenue be supplied, except by extraordinary resources. 

* Private letters, or mandates, (sealed letters,) formerly issued by the 
kings of France, under the royal signature, for the apprehension of 
persons obnoxious to the court. 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 267 

About the middle of November, in a full meeting of the 
parliament, attended by all the princes of the blood, and the 
peers of France, the king entered the assembly, and pro- 
posed two edicts, for their approbation : the first, for a loan of 
four-hundred-and-fifty-millions of livres, (nearly eighty -five- 
millions of dollars;) the second, for the re-establishment of 
the protestants, in all their ancient civil rights; the latter 
being a measure long recommended by the parliament, and 
probably now introduced, by the ministers, to procure a 
better reception to the loan. The king was soon convinced, 
that the spirit of the assembly was not subdued, by their 
recent exile. An animated debate was continued, for nine 
hours; when, the king, wearied by incessant opposition, 
suddenly rose, and commanded the edicts to be registered, 
without delay. This order was unexpectedly opposed, by 
the duke of Orleans, a cousin of the king; who protested 
against the whole proceedings of the day, as null and void. 

But Louis did not silently pass over so bold an attack 
upon the authority of the crown. The next day, the duke 
of Orleans was commanded to retire to one of his seats, a 
mile from Paris; and the abbe Sabatiere and M. Freteau, 
both members of parliament, who had distinguished them- 
selves in the debate, were imprisoned. 
1 7fiR r ^ ae P ar ^ amen t were not slow, in expressing their 
feelings, at this act of oppression. Their spirited 
remonstrance, was again triumphant. Too mild in his dis- 
position, to support the character of a tyrant, the king, in 
the beginning of the year, recalled the duke of Orleans, to 
court, and liberated the imprisoned members; and soon af- 
terwards the nation was still further gratified, by the re- 
instatement of M. Necker, at the head of the finances. 

The credit of an individual, seemed, at this moment, to 
support the tottering state of France. The people flattered 
themselves, that the national wealth, so long diverted from 
its proper course, would, by his integrity and ability, be re- 
stored to its natural channel. France now groaned beneath 
a national debt of more thantwo-hundred-and-eight-millions 
sterling, or nine-hundred-and-twenty-four-millions of dollars. 

To assemble the States-General, was the only expedient 
that presented itself to Necker. But, no small difficulty 
occurred, in relation to the number of the representatives of 
tlie tiers etat, or commons. From the reign of Philip the 
Fair, the period when the third estate or commons had first 



268 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

been admitted into the assembly of the states -general, to the 
year 1614, when that body had been last assembled, the in- 
fluence of that estate had undergone considerable fluctua- 
tion: its numbers had occasionally varied; though it had 
always possessed a greater number of voices, than either of 
the other orders — the nobility and the clergy — separate; but 
had never been equal to them, united. The interesting 
question was now proposed, "whether the representatives 
of the commons ought to be confined to a third of the num- 
ber of the states-general, or be allowed a number equal to 
the other orders combined?" This important question was 
discussed with unusual ability and warmth. The duke of Or- 
leans joined M. Necker, in the proposed increase to the popu- 
lar branch of the assembly; and the measure was at length 
approved by the parliament, and sanctioned by the king. 

A retrospective view may, at this stage of our history, be 
instructive. At no period, since its establishment, had the 
French monarchy any permanency in its form, or any fixed 
and recognized prerogatives and powers. Under the first 
races, the government was elective, the nation was sovereign, 
and the king simply a military chieftain, depending on the 
common deliberations, as to the decrees he should enact, or 
the measures he should undertake. The nation elected its 
chief: it exercised the legislative power, in the Champ-de-Mars. 
under the presidency of the chief, and the judicial power, as 
to the courts-leet, under the direction of one of his officers. 
The sovereignty at length ascended: the grandees despoiled 
the people of their power, as they themselves were afterwards 
despoiled of it, by the prince. At this epoch, the monarch had 
become hereditary, — not, however, as king, but as possessor 
of the royal fief; the legislative powers then belonging to the 
grandees, in the parliaments of the barons, and the judicial 
authority to the vassals, in the seignoral courts. By degrees, 
there was a still further concentration of the sovereign pow- 
er: the king at length annulled, or subjugated, the seignoral 
courts, assumed the legislative power, and made the parlia- 
ments of lawyers exercise their judicial functions, in subser- 
viency to the royal will. 

The States-General, summoned only on occasions of pres- 
sing necessity, to grant subsidies, and composed of the three 
orders of the nation — the clergy, the noblesse, and the tiers 
etat, (or third estate) — never had a regular existence; and, 
under Louis XIV., absolute monarchy was definitively 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 269 

established. From his time, to the revolution, the government 
of France was arbitrary, rather than despotic : the monarchs 
had much greater power, than they exercised; their immense 
authority being resisted only by the feeblest barriers. 

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY. 

1 R q The States-General assembled on the fifth of May. 
An immense multitude, from all parts, had resorted 
to Versailles. The pomp of decoration had been prodigiously 
lavish: — the chantings of music, the benevolent and satisfied 
air of the king, the beauty and noble deportment of the 
queen; and, above all, the common expectation; inspired 
and animated every breast. Yet the people beheld, with 
pain, the etiquette, the costume, and the subordination of 



the states, which had been observed in 1614. The clergy, 

3, or in purple 
robes and lawn sleeves, occupied the first place. Then, 



in cassocks, large cloaks, and square bonnets, or in purple 



came the noblesse, habited in black, having the vest and fa- 
cing of silver cloth, the cravat of lace, and the hat with a 
white plume, turned up, in the fashion of Henry IV. The 
modest commons were in the last place, clothed in black, 
with a short cloak, muslin cravat, and hat without plumes 
or loops. 

The next day, the royal sitting was held in the hall of 
the privy treasury. When the deputies and ministers had 
taken their places, the king made his entry, followed by the 
queen, the princes, and a brilliant retinue. The hall re- 
sounded with applause. Louis seated himself upon his 
throne, and, when he had put on his hat, the three orders 
covered themselves, at the same time. The commons, con- 
trary to the usage of the ancient states, imitated, without 
hesitation, the clergy and the noblesse. The time had pas- 
sed away, when it was necessary for the third estate to 
stand uncovered, and speak to the sovereign upon their knees. 

The address delivered, by the king, on this occasion, was 
conciliating and patriotic. He seemed bent upon restoring 
tranquillity to France. But his recommendation of una- 
nimity to the several orders, was entirely without effect. The 
elements of which they were composed, were too dissimilar, 
to be amalgamated by the royal will. The clergy and the 
noblesse proposed to vote in a distinct chamber, separate 
from the commons; who were thus to be considered as form- 
z 2 



270 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

ing a third and independent branch of the assembly, and 
would certainly be overpowered, upon every question that 
affected their privileges, by the combined voices of the other 
two. The commons insisted that there should be a union 
of the three orders, in one chamber ; and that the votes of the 
whole assembly should be taken together; by which means, 
the tiers etat would be enabled to exercise that numerical 
influence, to which they thought themselves entitled, by 
their number. The clergy and noblesse retired to another 
hall, and the commons, at the suggestion of the abbe Sieyes, 
assumed the supreme legislative authority, under the title 
of the National Assembly; and solemnly swore, with the 
exception of a single individual, that they would not sepa- 
rate, until they had given a constitution to France. 

From the epoch of this event, which occurred on the six- 
teenth of June, may be dated the commencement of the 
Revolution; when privileged orders, and feudal distinctions, 
the stupendous fabric of ecclesiastical authority, and the 
magnificence and power of the ancient monarchy of France, 
crumbled into ruin, beneath the breath of a nation, awaken- 
ed, by the pressure of misgovernment, into action. 

It was not until the twenty-seventh of June, that the fee- 
ble attempts of the clergy and nobles, were overwhelmed, 
by the numbers and resolution of the commons, and a re- 
union of the three orders was effected. The nobles had 
amongst them many popular dissidents. The majority of 
the clergy, also, composed of some bishops, friends of peace, 
and a numerous class of curates, were favourably inclined 
towards the commons. 

Bailly, the celebrated astronomer, then presided over 
the assembly. This virtuous citizen, without seeking for 
honours, had received all that the rising spirit of liberty could 
confer. He was the first president of the assembly, as he 
had been the first deputy of Paris, and was to be its first 
mayor. 

It was at this period of public agitation, that the memo- 
rable society of the Friends of the People, since called Ja- 
cobins, in allusion to their place of meeting, was formed. 
Its members corresponded with all parts of France; and, 
possessed of a rare union of talents and enthusiasm, it gave 
a tone to the national voice, that responded, with impres- 
sive harmony, from all points of the kingdom; and finally 
plunged the nation into anarchy and bloodshed. 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 271 

Histories more voluminous than this, must be consulted 
for the details of the imprudent and unsuccessful struggle, 
maintained, with the National Assembly, by the court. The 
impulse now given to the revolution, could not be arrested, 
by so feeble a hand as that of Louis. The high-toned coun- 
sels of his brothers, and his queen, instead of impeding, 
served only to accelerate its progress. The angry counte- 
nance of the Parisians, foretold the approaching storm. Seve- 
ral prisons were forced, the debtors and criminals set free, 
and the French guards loudly invited to abandon the cause 
of despotism, and range themselves beneath the standard of 
liberty. 

Large bodies of troops were directed, by the court, to 
march towards Paris; a considerable camp was formed near 
the gates of the capital; the avenues to Versailles were guard- 
ed, by a formidable artillery; numerous sentinels were 
stationed around Paris; and the marshal de Broglio, grown 
gray in the wars of Germany, was summoned to command 
the forces assembled in the isle of France. 

The capital, at this time, bore, with impatience, the high 
price of bread; the murmurs of the inhabitants were general 
and loud; and it was at this moment, when the greatest ad- 
dress was necessary, to sooth their discontented minds, that 
the court ventured upon a measure, as unpopular, as it was 
unwise. On the eleventh of July, Necker, who had so long- 
enjoyed the confidence of the multitude, received the royal 
orders immediately to quit the kingdom. The intelligence 
of his departure, filled Paris with consternation. The peo- 
ple regarded his exile as the first step towards the subver- 
sion of their freedom. The bells were sounded, as signals 
for the citizens to arm. The regiment of French guards 
ranged itself on the side of the populace. The crowd at- 
tacked the hotel of invalids; and, having there got possession 
of thirty -thousand fusees, pressed forward to the Bastile. 
The massy walls of this celebrated fortress of despotism, 
with the wide and deep ditch that surrounded them, might 
have defied the frantic valour of the insurgents, had they 
been confided to any other person, than the marquis de 
Launay. But, the conduct of that officer was equally fatal 
to his life and reputation. He rejected the demand of the 
people, to remove the artillery from the ramparts, yet he ne- 
glected to raise the draw-bridge, and suffered a crowd to 
place themselves upon it. On these unhappy people, who 



272 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

peaceably awaited the result of a parley which he held, he 
suddenly fired. Several were the victims of this guilty 
rashness; but the populace, instead of being intimidated, 
were only irritated, by the fate of their companions: they 
pressed forward, in thousands, to avenge them: resistance 
was in vain: after a siege of nearly five hours, each avenue 
was forced, de Launay, a prisoner, loaded with insults, 
was dragged to the place of public execution, and his head, 
severed from his body, was carried, in triumph, through the 
streets. 

In the gloomy apartments of this justly dreaded state- 
prison, was found, amongst other engines of cruelty, an iron 
cage, containing the skeleton of a man, who had probably 
lingered out a considerable part of his existence, in that horrid 
abode. Amongst the prisoners, released by its destruction, 
were major White, a native of Scotland, and the count de 
Lorges. The former, by long confinement and misery, ap- 
peared to have his intellectual faculties much impaired; and, 
from being unaccustomed to converse with mankind, had 
forgotten the use of speech: the latter was exhibited, to the 
public, at the Palais Royal; and, by his squalid appearance, 
his white beard, which descended to his waist, and his imbe- 
cility, the effect of an imprisonment of two-and-thirty years, 
was rendered an object perfectly calculated to operate upon 
the passions of every spectator. The walls of the Bastile, were 
levelled, by the populace, to the ground. The great key of 
the outer gate, was afterwards presented, by La Fayette, to 
his friend and fellow-soldier, general Washington; and is 
now preserved, as a trophy of the French revolution, at 
Mount-Vernon. 

If the state of the capital was deplorable, that of the 
army was not less critical. The example of the French 
guards, had pervaded the camp: the soldiers openly declared 
their resolution not to arm against their fellow-citizens; the 
defection became general, and marshal Broglio was reluc- 
tantly compelled to inform the king, that his majesty must 
no longer place any reliance upon the forces which he had 
been appointed to command. The example of Paris and 
Versailles prevailed throughout the kingdom. The new na 
tional, or tricoloured cockade, was universally displayed, 
and the voice of the people was every where predominant. 
Two-millions of peasants, in arms, severely avenged the 
wrongs they had formerly suffered. The rich edifices of 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 273 

the church, the lofty castles of the nobles, were confounded, 
in one general ruin: the archives of the great, the titles of 
ancient possessions, were, in a moment, destroyed; and 
those owners deemed themselves happy, who could escape, 
by a hasty flight. 

At Marseilles, a body of young men seized upon a fort, 
in which the military were posted, expelled the garrison, 
and demolished it, together with the two fortresses of St. 
Nicholas and St. John; on the latter of which, a Latin in- 
scription had long insulted that venerable city, to this ef- 
fect, — "This tower was erected, by Louis XIV., lest his 
faithful people of Marseilles, should become infatuated with 
the love of liberty." 

The marquis de la Fayette was selected, by his country- 
men, to command the militia which they had newly formed, 
called the National Guards. 

The calm, however, which the presence of the king had 
diffused throughout the capital, was deceitful, and of short 
duration. The slightest suspicions were sufficient, in the eyes 
of the populace, to sanction the most barbarous executions; 
and each day beheld some new sacrifice to their sanguinary 
caprice. M. de Foulon, a member of the new administration, 
with his nephew Berthier, and the sieur Chatel, lieutenant 
to the mayor of St. Dennis, were put to death, with every 
circumstance of furious triumph. The flight of more illus- 
trious persons, saved them, it is probable, from a similar 
fate. The count d'Artois, the prince of Conde, and the 
prince of Conti, the marshal de Broglio, and the family of 
Polignac, sought shelter, in foreign countries, from the popu- 
lar vengeance; thus, commencing the emi»iaiion; nnH many 
others soon followed their example, and, with several of the 
former, employed themselves in exciting all Europe to war 
against their native land. 

Meanwhile, the reformation of the state was discussed, by 
the national assembly, with indefatigable zeal. The cruel 
and outrageous parts of the feudal claims, and every branch 
of the ancient system of society, were examined, with a most 
scrutinizing eye. In some cantons, the vassals were sub- 
jected to be yoked, like cattle, to the carriages of the nobility; 
in others, they were compelled to pass whole nights, in 
beating the ponds, in order that the rest of their superior 
lords might not be disturbed, by the croaking of frogs; in 
some, the poor were obliged to maintain the noblemen's 



274 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

hounds 5 and the lord, on his return from hunting, was au- 
thorized to rip open the bowels of two of his vassals, that he 
might foment his feet, for his refreshment. 

Feudal services, were, by a resolution of the assembly, 
abolished; also, the game-laws, lettres de cachet, with dis- 
tinctions of dress, and tythes. On the motion of M.Talley- 
rand de Perigord, bishop of Autun, the estates of the church 
were appropriated to the public service; and, on the pro- 
position of M. Lambel, supported by La Fayette, de St. 
Fargeau, and the count de Noailles, hereditary nobility, and 
every species of titles, — in which, were included even mon- 
sieur and madame,— were abolished, together with liveries, 
armorial bearings, and every tiling that had hitherto decorated 
and distinguished polished life. The ancient divisions of 
the kingdom, into provinces, were likewise changed; and 
France was now divided into eighty-three departments, 
nearly equal in dimensions and population; in conformity 
with a plan presented by the abbe Sieyes. 

The motion for the abolition of titles, was warmly combated, 
by M. Foucault. — "What," he asked, "would you do with 
the man whose brevet recited that he was created a count, 
for saving the state?" — La Fayette, with Attic sententious- 
ness, replied " I would omit the words, created a count, and 
insert only, that he had saved the state." 

The amazing wealth, possessed by nineteen archbishops, 
and one-hundred -and- twenty-two bishops; the immense re- 
venues belonging to twelve-hundred-and-eighty-eight ab- 
beys, twelve-thousand-four-hundred priories, and fourteen- 
thousand-seven-hundred-and-eighty convents, might well 
cxoito th© emprise, and envy also, of the people. 

The constitution, which had been promised by the assem- 
bly, was at length completed, and with it, a declaration of 
the Rights of Man. Of the former, three drafts were select- 
ed, from a considerable number, presented by various mem- 
bers; — these, the respective productions of La Fayette, the 
abbe Sieyes, and Mounier, were, on the motion of Mirabeau, 
published, and afterwards condensed, by a committee, into 
nineteen resolutions; many of them being similar, in their 
principles, to the leading features of the constitution of Great 
Britain and of the United States; and the first declaring, 
that all power was originally derived from the people, and 
could continue to flow from that source alone: 

In the revolution, which thus gradually unfolds itself, the 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. Z75 

mind of the reader is scarcely cheered by the prospect of tran- 
quillity, before it is again overcast, by the gathering storms 
of civil commotion. The hopes arising from the expected 
influence of the new constitution, were blasted by the chill- 
ing breath of famine. Neither the exertions of the committee 
of subsistence, nor the precautions of the minister of finance, 
nor the liberality of the duke of Orleans, who devoted his 
immense revenue, to alleviate the public distress, could pre- 
vent the Parisians from being assailed by that scarcity, which 
still afflicted France, and was felt, in some measure, by the 
neighbouring kingdoms. The progress of discontent was 
rapid and frightful. On the fifth of October, a young woman, 
having entered a guard-house, seized a drum, and ran 
through the streets, beating it, and crying, Bread.' Bread! 
Several thousand, of the most licentious and daring of the 
rabble, chiefly women, soon collected, from the markets and 
public halls, armed with fusees, pistols, staves, and pikes, 
and every weapon that their blind fury could supply; and, 
dragging two pieces of cannon, set out for Versailles, distant 
about twelve miles; and, having rushed, tumultuously, into 
the hall of the national assembly, and afterwards, in the dead 
of night, invaded, with terrific fury, the royal palace, and 
even the bed-chamber of the queen, they compelled Louis 
himself to accompany them to Paris. 

The queen was resolved to follow her husband; but the 
opposition was so strong against her, that the journey was not 
without danger. It was necessary to reconcile the multitude ; 
and La Fayette proposed to accompany her to the balcony. 
After some hesitation, she consented. They appeared to- 
gether; and, in order to make himself understood, by this 
tumultuous assembly; — in order to overcome their animosi- 
ties—to revive their enthusiasm — La Fayette kissed, with 
the profoundest respect, the hand of the queen, and the 
multitude responded, by a general shout of Vive la JReine J 

The carriages of the royal family, were placed in the 
middle of an immeasurable column, consisting partly of the 
soldiers of La Fayette, partly of the rabble, whose march 
had preceded his. The latter rushed along, howling their 
songs of triumph. Their van carried, on pikes, the bloody 
heads of two of the royal body-guards, whom they had 
murdered, as emblems of their success; and were singing 
songs, of which the burthen was — " We bring you the baker, 
his wife, and his little apprentice; " as if the presence of tha 



276 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

unhappy family, would increase the quantity of bread. Some 
of the women rode upon the cannon; many of them were 
mounted on the horses of the guards de corps, (whom they 
had dismounted) some after the fashion of men, others behind 
the saddle; the whole exhibiting one of the most ferocious 
and disgusting spectacles, that ever disgraced a civilized 
people. 

M. Necker now silently abandoned his station: the na- 
tional assembly removed also to the capital, and the power 
of the sovereign was reduced to an empty shadow. 
-i^qq Throughout the year which succeeded these im- 
portant events, the zeal of the assembly, for the pub- 
lic welfare, did not become less ardent. On the fourteenth 
of July, the anniversary of the destruction of the Bastile, a 

frand national festival was celebrated, in the Champ de 
lars; at which, the king, in presence of a million of citizens, 
swore that he would employ the whole power delegated to 
him, to maintain the constitution, and enforce the execution 
of the law. 

Trial by jury, in civil cases, was soon afterwards estab- 
lished: the law of primogeniture, by which the eldest son, on 
the death of his ancestor, intestate, enjoys the whole of his 
real estate, was repealed; and it was decreed, that the pro- 
perty of persons dying without having made a will, should 
be equally divided amongst his children, or his relations in 
the next degree: the protestants were restored to those 
possessions of which their ancestors had been deprived, by 
the revocation of the edict of Nantz: all extraordinary taxes 
on the Jews, were abolished; as well as the execrable droit 
d'auDcane, which decreed to the king, the property of foreign- 
ers who died in France.* 

It was also decreed, that the legislative body should be 
elected every second year; that it should annually determine 
the amount of the public expenditure and contributions; that 
the appointment of ministers should be vested in the king, 
but that their number should be regulated by law; that, under 
the king, an administration should be established, in each de- 
partment, for the regulation and collection of the revenue; 
and that, to supply the place of current coin, which was 
continually carried off by the emigrants, emissions should ba 
made of national promissory notes, called assignats. 

* This law is most happily satirized, by Sterne, in his Sentimental Journey. 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 277 

On the thirty-first of October, a decree was passed, by 
which the national flag of France, which hitherto had been 
white, was changed to the tricoloured, or flag composed of 
three vertical stripes, of blue, red, and white. 
17Q1 But the national assembly was soon deprived of 
i ' one of its most brilliant members. On the second 
of April, Mirabeau was suddenly carried off, by an internal 
disease, in the forty -third year of his age. With a mind 
vigorous and comprehensive, intuitive and acute, severely 
tried in adversity, intimate with the intrigues and follies, 
the dissipations and other vices of courts; his deep penetra- 
tion, his fortitude, his fluent eloquence, his powerful voice, 
were all adapted to command attention. Uniting a talent 
for repartee, with the powers of profound reasoning, he was 
always ready to disconcert or refute. Few statesmen pos- 
sessed more extensive views; few orators have been capable 
of bolder flights, of a more passionate address, or a more 
energetic expression. His funeral was conducted with ex- 
traordinary pomp; and his remains were deposited near those 
of the great philosopher, Des Cartes; but, in the following 
year, the fickle populace, with every mark of ignominy, dis- 
persed his ashes in the air. 

The public attention was soon turned from honouring the 
memory of an individual, to making provision for the safety 
of the nation. The princes at the head of despotic govern- 
ments, were interested in crushing the present revolution, and 
extinguishing a flame which threatened to consume themselves. 
A league was, at length, formed, against the rising liberties 
of France, by the most powerful sovereigns of the continent. 
Troops were advancing, from Germany, on the north, from 
Spain, on the south, and from Italy and Savoy, on the east; 
the emigrant troops had been reviewed, by the prince of 
Conde, on the borders of Alsace; and France might be said 
to be besieged by hostile armies. 

To deprive the associate powers of every apology for in- 
vasion, by showing them that Louis acquiesced in the late re- 
formation of the state, the king, at the request of the depart- 
ment of Paris, notified to them, through his ambassadors, his 
full approbation of the constitution. But, while he made 
this declaration, with so much seeming cordiality, he was 
evidently corresponding with the invaders of his country, 
and preparing to escape. On the twentieth of June, about 
midnight, the whole of the roval family, then at Paris, secret- 
2 A 



278 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

\j left the palace, in disguise; and, having reached the bou- 
levards, there found two carriages in waiting; in which, they 
proceeded towards the frontier. The king had, in general 
Bouille, a devoted and active partisan, who promised him a 
refuge and support in his army. Bouille prepared every- 
thing for his reception. Under a pretext of a movement of 
the enemy's troops on the frontier, he established a camp at 
Montmedy; and placed detachments of cavalry, upon the 
route which the king was to follow, to serve as an escort; pre- 
tending that they were to protect the military chest, des- 
tined for the payment of the army. The king and queen, 
the dauphin and princess royal, with the king's sister, were 
in one carriage; the king's brother, the count of Provence, 
with his wife, were in another. Louis, with his party, pas- 
sed unsuspected, nearly one-hundred-and-seventy miles from 
Paris; although he had entered into familiar conversation 
with different people, at several post-houses, where they had 
occasion to stop. To favour their escape, the royal family 
had procured passports, in the name of the baroness de Kroff, 
for herself and suite, as travelling to Frankfort. But, all 
their precautions were not sufficient, to prevent detection. 
At St. Menehould, a few leagues from the frontiers, the post- 
master, Drouet, who had formerly been a dragoon, in the 
regiment of Conde, recognized the queen. He set off, on 
horseback, for Clermont; where he learned, that the travel- 
lers had taken the road to Varennes; towards which place, 
he proceeded, by cross roads, with so much speed, as to 
reach the inn of Bras cPOr, a few minutes before them. 
The innkeeper instantly ran to a magistrate, who summoned 
the municipal officers and the national guards. It was now 
midnight, the royal party had arrived, and measures were 
taken to ensure their detention. While the magistrates 
were proceeding to the inn, Drouet seized a wagon, laden 
with furniture, which he placed at the foot of a bridge, over 
which the travellers must necessarily pass, in their way out 
of the town. Several persons noticed the resemblance of 
the king, to the portrait on the fifty -livre assignat; others 
remarked, that the children corresponded, in number and 
age, to the children of the royal family; and all agreed, that 
it was very extraordinary a Russian baroness should be so 
strongly escorted by French troops. 

Meanwhile, a judge of the district, who had frequently 
seen Louis, was sent for, and, on his entering the apartment, 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 279 

in which the royal family were now assembled, signified, by 
an expressive look, to one of the magistrates, that it was un- 
questionably the king. The unhappy prince saw that further 
dissimulation would be vain; and, addressing himself, with 
great emotion, to the magistrates, — "Yes," said he, "I 
am your king. I have fled from Paris, where I was sur- 
rounded with poniards and bayonets: I have come to my 
faithful subjects of this province, in search of liberty and 
safety; 1 mean to proceed no further than Montmedy — I 
entreat you not to impede me." 

The queen also addressed them, and conjured all around, 
to save herself and her children. But the magistrates were 
inflexible, and declared that they must immediately return 
to Paris. 

The royal family were escorted, on their return, by a con- 
siderable body of the national guards; and so well was the 
public tranquillity preserved, that they entered the city, 
without any disturbance, on the twenty-fifth. 

The count of Provence and his wife, who had taken a 
different road, were more successful, in effecting their escape; 
and arrived safely at Brussels, on the twenty-third. 

The period now approached, when the national assembly, 
known also as the Constituent Assembly, was to terminate 
its labours. On the thirtieth of September, having first pro- 
vided for the introduction of the succeeding members, this 
illustrious body of patriotic legislators, concluded an uninter- 
rupted session of two years and eight months, and spon- 
taneously dissolved itself. 

With the first national assembly, the power and dignity 
of the monarchy disappeared. Unhappily for France, the 
constituent assembly had adopted a regulation, by which its 
members were rendered ineligible to the assembly by which it 
was to be succeeded. As the former contained the first choice 
amongst men of ability throughout the nation, it followed 
that the latter could not possess an equal degree of talent. 
The new assembly, distinguished by the name of the Legis- 
lative Assembly, which convened on the first day of October, 
consisted chiefly of country gentlemen; whose inexperience 
in political affairs, rendered them incompetent to act for 
themselves, and made them the passive instruments of a 
party, which, though not numerous, compensated, for this 
deficiency, by its talents, activity, and boldness.* This 
party consisted chiefly of men of letters; many of them, but 



280 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

not all, of the highest rank m literature. They were not 
unanimous, on every point of government; but, in this, how- 
ever, they agreed, that no other than a pure democracy, was 
adapted to the condition of freemen; and that France could 
never be happy and flourishing, until every vestige of 
monarchy was destroyed. 

Pastoret was elected president; and, for their secretaries, 
they chose Francois, Garron de Coulon, Cerutte, Lacepede, 
and Guyton Morveau. 

The state of the public mind, at home, and the grand 
conspiracy abroad, were seized upon, with avidity and alarm, 
by the Jacobin society; who, at this period, had obtained the 
plenitude of influence and power. While their sittings 
were held at Versailles, as well as after their removal to 
Paris, public topics were systematically debated by them; 
particularly such as had become the subject of discussion in 
the assembly. Their debates were open to the public; and 
the plaudits of the galleries incited to general emulation. 
They had a president and secretary, kept a minute of their 
proceedings, and appeared, in every respect, an epitome of 
the national assembly; of whose members, the society was 
likewise principally composed. 

The ascendancy of the Jacobin club, was soon evinced, in 
the appointment of ministers. Dumourier and Lacoste, two 
of its leading members, were nominated to two of the vacant 
departments, of foreign affairs and the marine; and, soon 
afterwards, on the twenty-third of March, the king announced 
the appointment of three more of the popular party, Garniere, 
Roland, and Claviere. Dumourier and Roland were the 
most remarkable, and the most important members of the 
council. 

"Dumourier was forty-seven years of age, at the com- 
mencement of the revolution. Up to that time, he had lived 
amidst the dissipations and the intrigues of the court. The 
first part of his political life, was spent in discovering those 
by whom he might rise, and the second, those who were 
able to support his elevation. A courtier before '89, a 
Constitutionalist under the first assembly, a Girondist under 
the second, a Jacobin under the republic, he was eminently 
the creature of the time. But, he had all the resources of 
great men — an enterprising disposition, indefatigable activity, 
and prompt, accurate, and extended views; extraordinary im- 
petuosity in action, and unbounded confidence in success." 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 281 

" Roland was a contrast to Dumourier. His manners 
were simple, his morals severe, and his opinions tried : he 
loved liberty, with enthusiasm; and was equally capable of 
consecrating to its cause, the whole of his existence, or of 
perishing for its sake, without ostentation, and without regret. 
He was a man worthy of being born in a republic, but was 
misplaced in a revolution. He was ill-fitted for the agitations 
and struggles of parties; his talents were not great; his dis- 
position was rather unbending; he knew neither how to appre- 
ciate, nor how to govern men; and, though laborious, intelli- 
gent, and active, he would have, figured little, without the aid 
of his wife. All that was deficient in him, was supplied by her 
—force and elevation of mind, ability, and foresight. Madame 
Roland was the soul of the Girondists. She was the point 
around which assembled those brilliant and courageous men, 
to discuss the wants and the dangers of their country. It was 
she who roused those whom she knew to be able in action, 
and directed to the tribune the efforts of those whom she 
knew to be eloquent."* 

The court named the new council, the Sans-Culotte minis- 
try A The first time that Roland appeared at the palace, 
with strings in his shoes, and a round hat, which were against 
the rules of etiquette, the master of the ceremonies refused 
to admit him. But, forced, at length, to allow him to pass, 
he thus addressed Dumourier: "What, Sir, without buckles 
in his shoes!" — "Aye, Sir, all is lost!" replied Dumourier, 
with the greatest coolness. 

This period is remarkable for the introduction of the 
Guillotine, as a substitute for the axe, in decapitation; an 
instrument which derived its name from a surgeon, by whom 
it was invented. 

Amongst the calamities, which, at this time, agitated the 
nation, the dissentions incited by the clergy were not the 
least grievous and important. They were increased by the 
presumptuous interference of the court of Rome. The pope 

* The deputies of the Gironde, sat at the left side of the Assembly,. 
and gave name to the party called Girondists, who were moderate re- 
publicans. 

f The literal signification of " sans culolie" is, " without breeches." 
The queen had applied it, as a sarcasm on the representatives of tho 
people; implying, that fellows without breeches, had become the go- 
vernors; and thenceforward, it was adopted, as a title of pride, .by th* 
republicans. 

2a2 



282 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

had prohibited the clergy, under the most terrific anathemas, 
from conforming to the decrees of the French legislature, 
and from subscribing to the civic oath. In consequence of 
which, a decree was passed, which expelled, from their bene- 
fices, all who, paying obedience to a foreign authority, should 
be so disregarded of their duty to their country, as to oppose 
its laws; and thus, there remained, in the heart of France, 
an immense body of disaffected persons, united amongst them- 
selves, obedient to a foreign hierarchy, looking confidently 
to the king, and possessing an influence over the minds of 
the people, capable of being turned to the desolation of the 
country, and yet difficult to be suppressed. 

While the emperor was making preparations against the 
French nation, in a clandestine manner, the northern powers 
were more open and decided. Prussia, Sweden, and Russia, 
entered into strict engagements, for the restoration of the 
ancient despotism of France. 

The French, on their part, were not remiss, in preparing 
against the approaching storm. La Fayette had already 
proceeded to assume the command, on the frontiers; Rocham- 
beau and Luckner were now promoted to the rank of mar- 
shals; new levies were ordered, and the whole country as- 
sumed the garb of war. 

1792 ^ e suc ^en death of the emperor Leopold, produced 
no change in the councils of the Austrian court. His 
son, Francis II., (brother of the queen of France) pursued 
the same designs, and on the twentieth of April, by the re- 
commendation of Louis himself, to the assembly, war was 
formally declared against him. 

On the twenty-eighth, three divisions of French troops en- 
tered the Austrian Netherlands, under the respective com- 
mands of field-marshal Arthur Dillon, and generals Biron 
and Carl. But, from a want of proper concert in their move- 
ments, their operations were unsuccessful: after several 
engagements, they were obliged to retreat; and the unfortu- 
nate Dillon, being unjustly suspected of having betrayed 
his army, was murdered, by his flying companions, as soon 
as they had entered the gates of Lisle, and his dead body 
torn to pieces, by the soldiers and the mob. 

Indignant at the mismanagement of ministers, and disap- 
proving of offensive war, Rochambeau asked permission to 
resign, and marshal Luckner was appointed to command the 
northern forces, in his stead. 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 283 

While the army was thus making its first essay in the field, 
the republican party were assiduously employed, in the legis- 
lative hall. The last stone of the fabric of monarchal go- 
vernment, was about to be overturned. Danton is said to 
have been the first to conceive and form the bold project of 
the republic. But, there were others, whose lives having 
been devoted to political studies, had, without any concert 
with Danton and his associates, long turned their attention 
to the same object. The chief of these were Condorcet, 
Brissot, and Thomas Paine (the latter already distinguished, 
in the American states, by the vigour of his pen) who had 
established a gazette, called Le Republicain; in the very first 
number of which, their principles were openly avowed. 

On the twelfth of June, the king may be said to have un- 
sheathed the sword. He announced, to the assembly, the 
dismissal of Servan, Claviere, and Roland; a step taken at 
the desire of Dumourier; whose application of a considerable 
sum of the public money, to the use of his mistress, madame 
de Beauvert, had excited the remonstrance of the virtuous 
Roland. 

On the eighteenth, general Chambon was appointed minis- 
ter for foreign affairs, Montceil of the interior, and Lajard 
minister of war. 

Deeply interesting events followed each other, with the 
rapidity of thought. With good intentions, but little wisdom, 
La Fayette addressed a letter to the assembly, from his camp, 
at Maubege; in which, he drew a formidable picture of the 
dangerous state of the nation, and accused the Jacobins of 
criminal designs. The Jacobins denounced him, as a traitor. 
Their meetings became scenes of unusual turbulence; and, 
without doors, the spirit of disorder hourly increased. On 
the twentieth, a multitude of men, women, and children, in 
number at least twenty-thousand, traversed the hall of the 
assembly, with a petition; displaying banners of a revolution- 
ary character, and singing the famous national air of $a ira ' 
Thence, they proceeded to the royal palace. There was a 
strong military guard, for the protection of the king, but 
Louis would not allow them to be repelled by force. At four 
o'clock, the populace were computed at forty-thousand; and 
the gates of the Tuileries were thrown open, to admit them. 
The royal family were at dinner, and a pike, which had been 
thrust against the door of the room in which they sat, would 
have killed the king, had not a chasseur turned aside the 



284 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

weapon, with his hand. One. of the mob now advanced, and 
insisted upon Louis wearing a red cap, (the ensign of the 
Jacobins,) which was presented to him, on the point of a 
pike; while another presented to him a bottle, and desired 
him to drink the health of the nation; with both of which 
insulting requests, he, with apparent willingness, complied. 

During the whole of this disgraceful tumult, the princess 
Elizabeth continued close by the side of her brother. On the 
first breaking in of the rabble, the queen fainted, and, with 
her children, was accidentally separated from her husband, 
and conveyed to the apartment of the king's physician. As 
soon as she recovered, she attempted to penetrate to the 
king, but was stopped, in her way, by the mob breaking 
into the council-chamber. Fortunately, Lajard, the minister 
of war, and a military officer, had retired to the same spot; 
the minister formed a kind of rampart, of the great council- 
table, which he placed against the door, with a double row 
of national guards before it. Behind the table, stood the 
queen, with her children and some ladies; in which situation, 
she remained, during the whole time of this brutal visit; 
condemned to hear the most indecent reproaches, from the 
meanest and most depraved of her own sex. 

The approach of night delivered the unhappy family from 
this persecution. The mayor persuaded the people to dis- 
perse, and, between eight and nine o'clock, these unwelcome 
intruders left the palace. 

La Fayette now conceived it expedient to present himself 
before the assembly. He appeared at the bar, and demand- 
ed, in the name of his army, that order, obedience, and re- 
spect for the laws, should be restored; and entreated the 
assembly to save his country from ruin, by dissolving the 
factious clubs, and punishing the promoters of the late dis- 
graceful riots. 

To speak in the mildest terms, the conduct of La Fayette 
was, in this instance, most imprudent. The Jacobins were 
filled with indignation. The appellations of Cromwell and 
Monk were applied to him, by a thousand presses; and the 

fopular dislike proceeded so far, as to burn him in efUgy. 
n the assembly, he was violently attacked: a design was 
formed to arrest him; and, to escape the danger to which he 
had exposed himself, he left the city, on the thirtieth, and set 
out directly for the army. 

At length, an insulting and sanguinary manifesto, issued at 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 285 

Coblentz, on the twenty-fifth of July, by the duke of Bruns- 
wick, commander-in-chief of the Austrian and Prussian 
armies, reached Paris. The emperor and the king of Prussia, 
in their joint proclamation, had asserted, that " the king was 
not sincere, in accepting the constitution:" — this manifesto 
contained the same insinuation; and, unfortunately, the 
public measures, as well as the private deportment of the 
king and the court, gave strong probability to the assertion. 
This fatal declaration accomplished the total overthrow of 
the French monarchy. There was but one wish, one cry of 
resistance, from one end of France to the other; and whoever 
had not joined in it, would have been regarded as guilty of 
impiety to his country, and the sacred cause of its inde- 
pendence. On the third of August, Petion, the mayor of 
Paris, at the head of the sections of the city, appeared, at the 
bar, to demand the deposition of the king; and a petition, to 
the same effect, which had lain on the altar of the Champ 
de Mars, was presented, on the sixth, by a countless multi- 
tude, preceded by a person carrying a pike, crowned with 
a red cap; upon which, was inscribed "The deposition of 
the King. " The tenth was appointed for the discussion of this 
momentous subject. The movements of the populace were 
terrific. No alternatives now remained, to the unhappy 
monarch, but flight, or resistance, by force of arms. Pre- 
parations were made for both. The Tuilleries were put in 
a state of defence, and no hope of the return of harmony or 
peace remained. Even the national guards evinced disaffec- 
tion to the king. The palace was attacked. A dreadful scene 
ensued; the Swiss guards, the gentlemen ushers, the pages, 
and all who came in the way of the insurgents, were cut to 
pieces; while the king and queen, with the rest of the royal 
family, escorted by a body of three-hundred Swiss, having 
taken shelter in the hall of the assembly, thus gained a re- 
spite from the fury of the mob. 

Almost every species of enormity was perpetrated, upon 
this occasion, except pillage. An ordinary workman of the 
suburbs, in a dress which implied abject poverty, made his 
way into the place where the royal family were seated; de- 
manding the king, by the name of Monsieur Veto.* " So, you 
are here," he said, "beast of a Veto. There, is a purse of 

* The term veto, (I forbid,) alludes to a power, vested in Louis, by 
the first revolutionary constitution, of refusing his sanction to any 
particular law, of which he disapproved. 



286 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

gold, I found in your house yonder. If you had found mine, 
you would not have been so honest." 

One band after another, of the ruthless violators of the 
royal mansion, their faces blackened with powder, their 
hands and weapons streaming with blood, came to invoke 
the vengeance of the assembly, on the head of the king and 
royal family; and expressed, in the very presence of the 
victims, whom they claimed, their expectations and com- 
mands, as to the manner in which they wished them to be 
treated. 

Meanwhile, the assembly continued their deliberations. 
The authority vested, by the constitution, in the king, was 
revoked; the people were invited to meet, in primary assem- 
blies, and form a national convention; the following day, a 
new executive council was appointed, consisting of Roland, 
Servan, Claviere, Monge, Danton, and Le Brim; and the 
royal family were imprisoned in the temple. This building 
is an ancient fortress, so called from the order of Knights- 
Templars; to whom, before their suppression, it belonged. 

Petion, the mayor, studiously insulted Louis, by his visits 
to the prison. The municipal officers, sent thither, to ensure 
the custody of his person, and to be spies upon his private 
conversation, were selected amongst the worst and most 
malignant Jacobins. Those, also, who kept watch without, 
were equally ready to contribute their share of insult. 
Pictures and placards, representing the royal family under 
the hands of the executioner, were posted up where the king 
and queen might see them. The most violent patriotic songs, 
alluding to the death of Monsieur and Madame Veto, were 
sung below their windows; and the most frightful cries for 
their blood, disturbed their rest. Every article was taken 
from the king, even his tooth-pick and penknife; and the 
queen and princesses were deprived of their house-wives and 
scissors. This led to an affecting remark of Louis. Seeing 
his sister, while at work, obliged to bite asunder a thread, 
which she had no means of cutting, "Ah," he exclaimed, 
"you wanted nothing, in your pretty house at Montreuil!" 
— "Dearest brother," replied the affectionate princess, " can 
I complain of any thing, since Heaven has preserved me to 
share, and to comfort, in some degree, your hours of capti- 
vity ?" — The prisoners enjoyed, in the best way they could, 
a short interval, during which they were allowed to walk in 
the gardens of the Temple; sure of being insulted by the 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. £87 

sentinels, who puffed volumes of tobacco smoke in their faces, 
as they passed them, while others annoyed the ears of the 
females with licentious songs. 

Louis had no other attendant than a single servant, Clery, 
who was, at the same time, the attendant of all his family. 
During the early part of his detention, he had not been se- 
parated from the latter, and he had experienced some con- 
solation from the society of his family: he encouraged and 
consoled his wife and sister; and officiated as preceptor to 
his son. He read a great deal, and particularly in the His- 
tory of England, by Hume; in which, he found many instan- 
ces of deposed Kings, particulary that of Charles I., who 
had been beheaded, and James II., who had been driven from 
his country, by the nation. 

The rage of the populace was not confined to the living 
objects of their resentment. They demolished every vestige 
of art, which had the remotest relation either to monarchy 
or aristocracy: even the statue of Henry IV., so long the 
idol of the popular party, was broken to pieces, merely 
because it was the statue of a king; and the busts of Necker, 
Mirabeau, and La Fayette, and of all the leading members 
of the constitutional party, were destroyed. 

La Fayette received early information of these ferocious 
tumults. His situation was truly dangerous. As a friend 
to the constitutional monarchy, his life was not secure, even 
within his own camp: on the nineteenth of August, therefore, 
he left his army, accompanied only by his staff, and a few 
servants, and took the route of Rocheforte, in Liege; which, 
being a neutral country, he hoped to pass unmolested; but, 
an Austrian general being stationed there, with an advanced 
party, arrested the fugitives, contrary to the law of nations, 
and sent them prisoners to Namur; whence, they were con- 
veyed successively, to the noisome dungeons of Wesel, Mag- 
deburg, Glatz, and Neisse, and finally to that of Olmutz; 
for no other crime, or rather, under no other pretext, than 
that of having been members of the national assembly of 
France. 

The sufferings are almost incredible, to which La Fayette 
and his companions were exposed, at Olmutz, through the 
mere spirit of barbarous revenge. The walls of their dun- 
geon were twelve feet thick; and air was admitted through an 
opening only two feet square, secured by transverse iron 
bars. Directly before this loop-hole, was situated a broad 



288 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

ditch, which was covered with water only when it rained: 
at other times, it was a stagnated marsh, constantly emitting 
a poisonous effluvium: — beyond this, were the outer walls of 
the castle, so that although the heat was almost insupportable, 
the miserable captives could never be refreshed by the slight- 
est breeze. On these walls, were stationed sentinels, with 
loaded muskets, who were prohibited to speak a word to 
them, and ordered to shoot them dead, if they attempted an 
escape. A miserable bed of rotten straw, together with a 
broken chair, and an old worm-eaten table, formed the whole 
furniture of each apartment. When it rained, the water 
flowed through the loop-holes, and off the walls, in so large 
quantities, that they would sometimes awake in the morning 
drenched to the skin; and, when the sun did not shine, which 
frequently happened in that humid country, the prisoners 
remained during the whole day almost in total darkness. 
The sufferings of La Fayette were peculiarly severe, and 
proved beyond his strength. The want of air, and of decent 
food, and the loathsome filth and dampness of his prison, 
brought him, more than once, to the borders of the grave; 
and, at one period, he was reduced so low, that his hair fell 
entirely from his head. 

But his friends were not inactive. In the month of June, 
1794, they prevailed upon Dr. Erick Bollmann, whose adven- 
turous and philanthropic spirit easily induced him to engage 
in the affairs of La Fayette, to proceed to Germany, to learn 
what had been the fate of the unfortunate patriot, and, if he 
were still alive, endeavour to procure his escape. 

Exploring Germany, in the character of a traveller in pursuit 
of knowledge, he discovered that La Fayette had been surren- 
dered to the Austrian government, and had taken the route 
towards Glmutz; a strong fortress in Moravia, and distant 
from Vienna about one-hundred-and-fifty miles. The inde- 
fatigable inquiries of the philanthropic Bollmann, recall to 
our minds, the anxious search of the troubadour for Richard 
Cceur de Lion. At Olmutz, he ascertained that several state' 
prisoners were confined in the citadel, with an unusual degree 
of mystery and caution. It seemed highly probable, that La 
Fayette was one of the unhappy captives; and, acting upon 
this supposition, the doctor visited the hospital, and endea- 
voured to form an acquaintance with the surgeon. The sur- 
geon proved to be a man of intelligence and feeling. After 
several interviews, when the conversation turned upon the 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. £89 

effect of moral impressions on the constitution, Dr. Bollmann, 
drawing a pamphlet from his pocket, abruptly said; " Since 
we are on the subject, you attend the state prisoners here; 
La Fayette is one of them; his health is much impaired; show 
him this pamphlet: tell him that it was left with you by a 
traveller, who lately saw, in London, all the persons named 
in it — his particular friends; that they are well, and continue 
attached to him, as much as ever. This intelligence will 
do him more good than all your drugs."-— 

The manner of the surgeon convinced Dr. Bollmann, that 
La Fayette was at Olmutz; and he knew that the general 
would devise means to profit by the opportunity, should he 
receive this pamphlet. A few days afterwards, the surgeon 
mentioned, of his own accord, that La Fayette wished to 
learn some further particulars respecting the situation of one 
or two of them, whom he named. On hearing this, the 
doctor appearing to have accidentally about him some white 
paper, but which had, in fact, been prepared for the emer- 
gency, sat immediately down, and wrote a few lines, in French, 
which language the surgeon understood, in reply to the in- 
quiries made; and finished with the sentence, " I am glad of 
the opportunity of addressing to you these few words, which, 
when read with your usual warmth, will afford, to a heart 
like yours, some consolation. "—The paper had previously 
been written upon with sympathetic ink; a writing which is 
invisible, unless rendered legible by the application of heat. 
— The slight hint conveyed in the last sentence, was suf- 
ficient; and La Fayette became acquainted with the doctor's' 
project. 

Preparations having been made, Dr. Bollmann visited se- 
veral gentlemen on their estates in Moravia, and took an op- 
portunity of again stopping at Olmutz, where he called upon 
the surgeon, who returned him the pamphlet, formerly left 
for La Fayette. He found that the margin had been written 
over with sympathetic ink — lime-juice — and, on applying 
heat, learned that the captive, on account- of his enfeebled 
state of health, had, at length, obtained permission to take 
an airing, in a carriage, on stated days of the week, accom- 
panied by a military guard; and that by far the easiest mode 
of restoring him to liberty, would be to attack the guard, 
on one of these excursions, and carry him suddenly away. 

The heroic Bollmann was not slow in preparing to exe- 
cute his bold design. Having ascertained, that La Fayette, 
2B 



290 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

in taking his ride, sat in an open carriage, with an officei 
bj his side, a driver on the box, and two armed soldiers 
standing behind, he returned to Vienna. One coadjutor, 
at least, being indispensable, he communicated his project 
to a young American gentleman, — Francis Kinloch Huger, 
who had often mentioned to him, that La Fayette, on arriving 
in America, first landed at his father's house, in South Ca- 
rolina, and there used often to caress him, on his knees, 
when a boy.* The warm-hearted and enthusiastic Huger, 
promptly entered into the whole design, and devoted himself 
to its execution, with the most romantic earnestness. 

These were the only two persons, except La Fayette him- 
self, informed of the intended rescue; and neither of them 
knew the captive general, by sight. But difficulties are no 
obstacle, in the minds of the generous and brave. On the 
eighth day of November (1794 ) they reached Olmutz; and 
their servant was despatched, at an early hour, to Hoff, a 
post-town, about twenty-five miles distant, with orders to 
have fresh horses ready at four o'clock. 

The interesting moment was approaching. Success would 
restore a gallant patriot to liberty and health; — a failure might 
draw still tighter the shackles of a cruel bondage, and hasten 
his wretched passage to a horrid grave. — To avoid all mis- 
takes, it had been concerted, between the parties, that, when 
they attempted the rescue, each should take off* his hat, and 
wipe his forehead, in token of recognition. — Their saddle- 
horses were now ready, at the inn, and Mr. Huger feigned some 
business near the town gate, in order to watch the moment 
when the carriage passed. The carriage at length appeared; 
and, as soon as he saw it, he hastened back to the inn. His 
friend immediately mounted, and followed it, at some distance, 
armed only with a pair of pistols, charged with powder, but 
not with ball. Their success was calculated on surprise; and, 
under all the circumstances of the case, to take any person's 
life, would have been not only imprudent, but unjust 

They rode past the carriage, and then slackening their 
pace, and allowing it again to go ahead, exchanged signals 
with the prisoner. At two or three miles from the gate, the 
carriage left the high road, and pursued a less frequented tract, 
in the midst of an open country; the plain being covered 

* This gentleman's name is pronounced as if it were spelled Ugte, 
with the accent on the last syllable. 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 291 

with labouring people. Presently, the carriage stopped. La 
Fayette and the officer alighted, and walked arm-in-arm, 
probably to give the former a better opportunity for exercise. 
The carriage, with the guard, drove slowly on, but remained 
in sight. This was the critical moment for their attempt. 
The two companions galloped up; and the doctor, dismount- 
ing, left his horse with Huger. At the same instant, La 
Fayette laid hold of the officer's sword, but could only half 
draw it from the scabbard, as it had been seized also by the 
officer, a man of herculean strength. The doctor joining, 
he was presently disarmed; but the German, as resolute as 
he was powerful, then grasped La Fayette, held him with 
all his might, and set up a tremendous roar, like the cy clops 
when wounded by Ulysses. The guard, instead of coming 
to his assistance, lied, to alarm the citadel. The people in 
the field were amazed. A scuffle ensued. Huger passed the 
bridles of the two horses over one of his arms, and thrust his 
handkerchief into the officer's mouth, to stop the noise. The 
officer, the prisoner, and the doctor, fell upon the ground; 
and the doctor, kneeling upon the officer, kept him down 
while the general arose. 

Unfortunately, one of the horses, taking fright, had reared, 
slipped his bridle, and ran off. A countryman caught him, 
and was holding him, at a considerable distance; while the 
doctor still keeping down the officer, handed a purse to La 
Fayette, requesting him to mount the remaining horse; 
and Mr. Huger, told him, in English, to go to HofF. But he 
mistook the particular destination for a more general di- 
rection—to go off — delayed a moment, to see if he could not 
assist them— then went on — then rode back again, and asked, 
once more, if he could be of no service — and, finally, urged 
anew, galloped away, and was in a minute out of sight. 

Recovering from his panic, the officer fled towards Olmutz. 
Dr. Bollmann and Huger recovered the horse that had es- 
caped, and mounted him, intending to follow, and assist 
La Fayette. But the animal unaccustomed to carry two 
persons, refused to perform this task, reared and bounded, 
and presently threw both. Mr. Huger immediately ex- 
claimed, "This will not do! — the marquis wants you— 
push on, I'll take my chance across the country.— The 
doctor pushed forward, and Mr. Huger, who now had little 
chance of escape, was soon seized by the peasants, and con- 
ducted to Olmutz. These accidents defeated their romantic 



292 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

enterprise. Dr. Bollmann easily arrived at Hoff, and being 
anxious to receive some intelligence of him, lingered about 
the frontiers, until the following night, when he also was 
arrested. 

La Fayette continued unpursued: he had taken a wrong 
road, which led to Jagersdoff, a town on the Prussian fron- 
tiers, and followed it as long as his horse could proceed. 
He had nearly reached the boundary of the Austrian rule, 
and, perceiving that his horse could go no further, under 
some pretext he endeavoured to prevail upon a peasant to 
procure him another horse, and to attend him to the frontier. 
The man apparently agreed, and went to the village, for the 
horse. But the general had awakened suspicion: the man 
promptly returned from the village, but he came with a force, 
by which the general was arrested, and reconducted to his 
prison. 

Thus ended this gallant, though abortive enterprise; and 
thus was the generous heart of La Fayette wounded by the 
sufferings of his noble friends. The three prisoners were 
separately confined, and denied even the consolation of know- 
ing each other's fate. Mr. Huger and doctor Bollmann were 
chained to the floor, each in a small vaulted dungeon, with- 
out light, and with only bread and water for food; and once 
every six hours, by day" and by night, the guard entered, and 
with a lamp, examined each brick, and each link of their 
galling chains. But a ray of hope at length beamed through 
the grating of their gloomy cells. By the powerful, but un- 
known intercession, of many of the personal friends of Dr. 
Bollman, the rigour of their confinement was relaxed, and 
on the conclusion of their trial, they were sentenced to no 
more than two weeks additional confinement, after having 
been already imprisoned about eight months. 

Meanwhile, La Fayette was re-assigned to his obscure and 
ignominious sufferings, with scarcely a hope that they could 
be terminated, except by death. The irons were so closely 
fastened around his ancles, that, for three months he endured 
the most excruciating torture; no light was allowed to pierce 
the stygean darkness of his solitary dungeon: he was even 
refused the smallest change of linen: to his bodily tortures, 
were added the agonies of his mind: — he was made to believe 
that, he was reserved only for a public execution, and that his 
chivalric deliverers had already perished on the scaffold; 
while, at the same time, he was not allow ed to know whether 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 295 

his family were still alive, or had fallen under the revolution- 
ary axe; oJ which, during the few days he was out of his 
dungeon, he had heard accounts so appalling to a feeling heart. 

Madame dvj La Fayette, however, was still alive; and, the 
reign of terror having been crushed in France, this amiable 
and heroic fen.\ile, with her two lovely daughters, Anastasia 
and Virginia, were released from their imprisonment, in Paris, 
and permitted, by the emperor of Germany, to enjoy the sad 
consolation of sharing in a husband's and a father's cell. The 
son of La Fayette had escaped the insatiate guillotine, and 
found a sure asylum, in the United States — in that country 
which was so largely indebted to his father's sword; and in 
the bosom of the immortal Washington, his father's friend. 
The intercession of the American president, as humane as 
he was great and brave, failed to obtain the liberation of La 
Fayette. The voice of general Tarleton — who had fought 
against him in Virginia, — the eloquence of Wilberforce and 
Fox, of Sheridan and Grey, in the British parliament — were 
unsuccessful; and it was not until the dictator of sovereigns, 
the subduer of thrones and kingdoms, issued his imperious 
mandate, that the incarcerated patriot was freed from his 
galling chains, and allowed to retire to his paternal mansion 
of La Grange. * 

The lives of few men have been so pure, as that of La 
Fayette. Few characters have been loftier, few popular 
persons have better deserved, and longer retained, popular- 
ity. Though, in France, he may have committed some errors, 
he never had in view but one object — liberty 5 and never 
employed but one means of obtaining it — the law. 

The affairs of the colonies, at this period, must not be 
passed over, unnoticed. The commotions which agitated the 
mother country, were trifling, when compared with the ani- 
mosities in the West Indies. The liberal designs of the 
national assembly, which had for their object to ameliorate 
the condition of the slaves, and the admission of free people 
of colour into the colonial assemblies, kindled the whole of 
the French islands into a flame. The white population 
resisted the decrees of the national assembly. In Martinico 
and the other small islands, after much contest, order was 
partly restored; but St. Domingo continued, for a long time, 

* La Fayette was liberated, on the 19th of September, 1797, after an 
imprisonment of more than five years, by an article in the treaty of 
Campo-Formio, dictated by the victorious Buonaparte. 

2b2 



294 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

a melancholy scene of desolation and civil war. The negroes 
seized the opportunity, thus afforded, to break their chains. 
In the northern districts, alone, one-hundred-thousand of 
the African race revolted ; and, wherever they were opposed, 
carried destruction and death into the fields of their op- 
pressors. More than two-hundred plantations were burned ; 
the ships afforded the only asylum from inevitable massacre, 
and immense numbers of the white inhabitants sought refuge 
in the United States. 

England did not contemplate, with indifference, the events 
of the revolution. Indications were early given, of the part 
she intended to act; and, though professions of neutrality 
were made, by Mr. Dundas, in a letter addressed, by him, 
to the executive council, the English ambassador, at Paris, 
was, at this period, recalled, and the French ambassador at 
London was no longer respected. 

A decree, passed in the assembly, by which La Fayette 
was declared guilty of high treason, was a measure naturally 
to be expected; nor did the execution of several individuals, 
charged with holding a correspondence with the enemy, 
cause any unusual sensation of alarm; but the massacre, on the 
second and third days of September, of more than two-thou- 
sand persons, imprisoned on a charge of conspiracy against 
the nation, by the instigation chiefly of Danton, Robespierre, 
and Marat, filled the whole civilized world with horror; as 
surpassing, in relentless cruelty, the atrocious slaughters of 
the bloodiest days of ancient Rome. 

The murderers proceeded with a kind of method, in their 
crimes. They impanneled a jury, nine of whom, it is said, 
were Italians, and the other three French. The watch-word 
that pronounced the accused guilty, was " Ilfaut largir," (he 
must be set at liberty;) when the victim was hurried from 
the door of the prison, to pass through a defile of miscreants, 
differently armed; and was cut to pieces, with sabres, or 
pierced through the body, with a hundred pikes. 

The jurors and the executioners often exchanged places; 
the jurors going out, to take the executioners' duty, the execu- 
tioners, with their reeking hands, sitting as jurors, in their 
turn. 

In the dungeon of La Force, was the beautiful and ac- 
complished princess de Lamballe, the friend and confidant 
of the queen. When summoned to appear before the bloody 
tribunal, she was in bed, but she dressed in haste; and, as she 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 295 

was conducted out of the prison, stupified with horror, at 
sight ,of the mangled bodies that lay around her, she received 
a blow, upon the head, with a sabre; and, when, at last, she 
fainted, and became so enfeebled, as to be unable to proceed 
further, her head was severed from her body. Her mangled 
corpse was exposed to indignities of every kind; and her head, 
fixed on a pike, was carried to the Temple, and shown to 
the queen; who fainted at the horrid sight. 

The assembly wished to put a stop to these cruel massacres, 
but could not; the ministry were as impotent as the assem- 
bly; and the soldiers, by whom the prisoners were guarded, 
durst not prevent the murderers from perpetrating their work 
of death. 

But, in the same degree that the French nation became 
turbulent and ferocious, they became also enthusiastic and 
brave. One universal movement of headlong courageousness, 
and of resistless impetuosity, pervaded France; which, like 
the wild fury of a mountain torrent, that sweeps before it- 
in its thundering descent, every obstacle by which it is op- 
posed, drove back the advancing columns of the enemy, and 
enabled even beardless boys to chase, before their new- 
raised banners, the experienced veterans of Austria and 
Prussia, and scatter them, though thrice their number, like 
leaves before the wind. 

The name of citizen was now the universal salutation, to 
all classes. Even when a deputy spoke to a shoe -black, 
that fond symbol of equality was regularly exchanged be- 
tween them; and, in the ordinary intercourse of society, there 
was the most ridiculous affectation of republican brevity and 
familiarity. — " When you conquer Brussels," said Collot 
d'Herbois, the actor, to general Dumourier, " my wife, who 
is in that city, has my permssion to reward you with a 
kiss." — « Citizen General," said the deputy, Camus, " thou 
dost meditate the part of Caesar; but remember, I will be like 
Brutus, and plunge a dagger into your bosom." — " My dear 
Camus," said the witty soldier, not in the least alarmed by 
this classical threat," I am no more like Caesar, than you are 
like Brutus: an assurance that I should live until you kill 
me, would be equal to a brevet of immortality. " 

Dumourier was appointed to succeed La Fayette. The 
enemy had advanced rapidly, towards the end of July and 
beginning of August: the confusion and terror produced by 
the transactions which we have just narrated, encouraged 



296 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

them in their Quixotic enterprise; and the first conquest 
achieved by them, was that of Longwy. On the twenty- 
first of August, this fortress was taken, by General Clairfait; 
and, soon afterwards, Verdun was entered, by the duke of 
Brunswick. The road to the capital was thus laid open. 
But the towns, captured by the confederated generals, were 
soon retaken. Dumourier and Kellermann were successful, 
not only in checking the advance of the duke of Brunswick, 
but in lowering his tone, so completely, that he asked permis- 
sion to retreat, unmolested; acknowledged the right of the 
French people to make their own laws; desired nothing fur- 
ther than the admission of Louis into the government, how- 
ever limited in power; and, before the end of October, eva- 
cuated the territories of France, after having lost one-third 
of his formidable host. 

The arms of France were, at this period, victorious, in 
every quarter. The king of Sardinia had long shown him- 
self hostile to the revolution; and, after the affair of the 
tenth of August, had held a congress of the foreign ministers, 
to debate on a plan for invading France. The national as- 
sembly, therefore, on the sixteenth of September, declared 
war against that sovereign; general Montesquieu having 
entered Savoy, the people joyfully flocked to his standard, 
and the whole country submitted, without resistance. Ge- 
neral Anselm, supported by the co-operation of a fleet, 
under the command of admiral Truguet, was equally suc- 
cessful, against Nice; and the conquests of general Custine, 
in the circle of the Upper Rhine, were not less brilliant, 
than those of his colleagues. Before the end of October, 
he saw the tricoloured banners proudly floating over the 
citadels of Spires, Worms, Frankfort, and Mentz. 

Even the female sex partook in the general enthusiasm; 
and many of them proved equal, in courage and conduct, to 
our own. Not only the sister of general Anselm, and two 
young ladies, of the name of Fernigs, who served as aids- 
de-camp to general Dumourier, and another young woman 
who acted as aid-de-camp to general Custine, but many other 
Frenchwomen, distinguished themselves, by the most heroiG 
exertions; and even the artillery was often served by female 
patriots; who, by their spirit and activity, compensated for 
that want of force and vigour, which had hitherto been ex- 
clusively attributed to men. 

The Austrians continued to retire, before the victorious 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 29f 

French. The first resistance experienced by Dumourier, 
was at the village of Bossu; but the fate of the Netherlands, 
was decided, by the victory of Gemappe. After this achieve- 
ment, which has immortalized the name of the French com- 
mander, he pursued his successful career, by capturing the 
city of Mons; and, after an action of six hours, with the 
prince of Wirtemburg, he made a triumphant entry into 
Brussels. 

In the mean time, Tournay and Malines, Ghent and 
Antwerp, opened their gates, to general La Bourdonnaye; 
and Lou vain and Namur were taken, by Valence; so that, 
before the conclusion of the year, the whole of the Austrian 
Netherlands, Luxembourg only excepted, was subjected to 
the arms of France. 

Profiting by the tide of fortune, Dumourier pursued the 
flying enemy, into the territory of Liege. Having again 
beaten the Austrians, at Tirlemont, he stopped there only 
one day, to refresh his troops; and, on the twenty-seventh 
of November, overtook, almost at the gates of Liege, the 
rear-guard of the imperialists, amounting to twelve-thousand 
men, under the command of general Starray; and, having 
driven them from six villages, in succession, and at length 
from an intrenchment, totally defeated them, with the loss 
of their commander; on the following day, he entered the 
city, after a series of rapid triumphs, almost unparalleled, in 
the history of war. 

But the glory of Dumourier had reached its zenith. He 
soon afterwards fell a prey to the intrigues of a faction; whose 
views, like his own, were confined to personal ambition. 
Under the influence of this party, the war-minister, Pache, 
is supposed to have acted; and every criminal means appears 
to have been practised, to distress his gallant soldiers. While 
immense sums were levied, by the convention, the army was 
destitute of every necessary of life. Unprovided with mat- 
trasses or coverlets, these brave men, who had gained those 
immortal battles, were compelled, in a rainy and inclement 
winter, to sleep on the wet ground, and some, to avoid the 
evils consequent upon such a situation, lashed themselves to 
the trunks of trees, and slept upon their feet. The soldiers 
were almost naked, without coats, without shoes; and their 
arms were rendered unserviceable, from the want of cloaks, 
to cover them from the rain. Numbers of the men perished, 
still greater numbers deserted, and returned home; mors 



298 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

than fifteen-thousand were in the hospitals, and ten-thousand 
horses died, for want of food. 

NATIONAL CONVENTION. 

Meanwhile, on the twenty-first of September, the As- 
sembly had terminated its sittings, and was succeeded bj 
the National Convention. The first president chosen, was 
Petion; the vice-president was Condorcet; the secretaries, 
Brissot and Lasource, Vergniaud, Camus, and Rabaud. 

The fate of Louis now hung suspended by a thread. Collot 
d'Herbois appeared on the tribune, and reminded the con- 
vention, that there was one declaration that could not, for a 
moment, be deferred — the eternal abolition of royalty, in 
France: — the abolition was voted by acclamation, and the 
house adjourned. 



CHAPTER VII. 
REPUBLIC. 

Decapitation of Louis XVI.— War with Great Britain. 

ON the sixth of November, a report of accusation was made 
against the king; on the eleventh of December, he was 
ordered to the bar of the convention, when his trial com- 
menced; and on the twenty -sixth, he entered upon his defence. 

The countenance of Louis, on entering the hall, was firm 
and manly; and he looked round upon the assembly, with 
an air of resolution. As he stood at the bar, the president 
said to him, with a faltering voice; " Louis, the French 
nation accuses you; you are nofr about to hear the reading of 
the act, declaratory of the charges. Louis, sit down." — 
During the long interrogatory, he discovered great calmness 
and presence of mind.. He replied to each question with 
readiness, and generally in a touching and triumphant 
manner. 

When he returned to the temple, the convention debated 
on the demand he had made of a defender. It was in vain, 
that some of the Mountainists opposed the motion: the con- 
vention determined that Louis should have counsel. He him- 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 299 

self had mentioned Target and Tronchet; but the former 
refused. It was then, that the venerable Malesherbes of- 
fered himself to the convention, to defend his fallen master. 
They acceded to his chivalric offer. Louis was touched, 
by this proof of devotion to his cause. When Malesherbes 
entered his chamber, he went up to him, embraced him, and 
said, " The sacrifice you make for me, is so much the more 
grievous, as you expose your own life, without a chance of 
saving mine." 

Malesherbes and Tronchet applied themselves uninter- 
ruptedly in preparing his defence, and joined with themselves 
M. Deseze. 

The discussions on the defence of Louis, and on the sepa- 
rate propositions of several members, continued for many 
days. Some were for an immediate vote, on the general 
charge, and execution, without delay, — as Marat, Robes- 
pierre, Chabot, Robert, Fabre, Legendre, St. Just, and 
Danton: others were of opinion, that he ought to suffer death, 
but deemed it right to discuss the expediency of retarding or 
accelerating the punishment; as Mailhe, Freilhard, Gaudet, 
Gensonne, Vergniaud, and Brissot: a third party assented 
to his absolute guilt, but wished that he should be confined, 
during the war, and then banished. Of this opinion, were 
Petion, Manuel, Salles, Dussaulx, Rabaud, Cambaceres, 
Guellimard, Louvet, Charles, Villette, and Thomas Paine. 
17 ,q„ The fourteenth of January was appointed, for the 
decision. On the question, "Is Louis guilty of a 
conspiracy against the liberty of the nation, and of attempts 
against the safety of the state?" — of seven -hundred-and- 
thirteen members who were present, six-hundred-and-eighty- 
seven voted that he was guilty. On the seventeenth, upon 
the question, " What punishment shall he suffer?" — of seven- 
hundred-and-twenty-one members, twenty-one voted for 
death, demanding a discussion of the period: one, for death, 
with a reserve of its commutation, or a delay; two, for death, 
but not to be executed until the conclusion of peace; two 
for chains; three-hundred-and-nineteen, for imprisonment 
and banishment; three-hundred-and-sixty-six, for death; the 
majority for unconditional death, being only eleven. 

The president, Barrere, then lowering his voice, amidst 
the most profound and awful silence, said — "I declare, in 
the name of the convention, that the punishment which it 
pronounces against Louis Capet, is — Death." 



SOO HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

When the duke of Orleans, who sat as a member of the con- 
vention, under the name of citizen Egalite, was asked for 
his vote, there was a deep pause; and when his answer was 
death, the auditors were electrified with a momentary horror. 

The defenders of Louis appeared at the bar, and seemed 
deeply moved. They endeavoured to recall the assembly 
to sentiments of pity, in consideration of the small majority 
of voices by which he was condemned. But the question 
had been already discussed, and decided. — " Laws are fram- 
ed only by means of a simple majority," said a Mountain- 
ist. — "Yes," said a voice; " but decrees may be reformed, 
and the life of a man can never be recalled. " — Malesherbes 
wished to speak, but could not. His voice was stifled by his 
sobs, and the only words that were audible, were broken and 
imploring. His grief touched the assembly. The Giron- 
dists now called for delay, as a last resource; but they failed 
in this also, and the fatal sentence was pronounced. 

Louis was allowed the assistance of a priest, and a free 
communication with his wife and children. The moment of 
the interview was terrible, for that unfortunate family; and 
that of their separation, still more affecting. On quitting 
them, Louis promised to see them again, the next day; but, 
on entering his chamber, he felt that the trial was too dis- 
tressing for him; and, as he walked about the room, he said 
to himself — u I shall not go." — This was his last struggle: 
he afterwards thought only of preparing for death. The 
twenty-first of January was fixed for his execution. On the 
night preceding, he had a peaceful slumber. On being 
awoke, at five o'clock, by Clery, whom he had ordered to 
call him at that time, he made his last testament, received 
the communion, charged Clery with his last words, and with 
all that he was allowed to dispose of by will — a ring, a seal, 
and some hair. Already the drums began to beat, and a 
confused sound of cannon dragged along, and human voices, 
were heard. At length, Santerre arrived. — " You are come 
for me," said Louis; "I require only a moment." — He then 
gave his will to a municipal officer, asked for his hat, and 
said, in a firm tone of voice, " Let us go." 

The carriage occupied an hour in passing from the temple 
to the square of the revolution. A double line of soldiers 
guarded the road; and more than four-thousand men were 
under arms. Amongst the citizens, there were signs ap- 
parent neither of approbation nor regret: — all were silent 



HISTORY OF FRANCE. 301 

On their arrival at the place of execution, Louis descended 
from the carriage. He mounted the ladder of the scaffold 
with a firm step, and received, on his knees, the blessing of 
the priest, Mr. Edgworth. He allowed his hands to be tied, 
though with some reluctance; and, turning to the left of the 
scaffold — "I die innocent," said he; "I forgive my ene- 
mies:— and you, unfortunate people " — At this moment, 
the signal for the drums to beat, was given; the sound of 
their roll drowned his voice; the three executioners seized 
him; and the reverend clergyman exclaimed, "Son of St. 
Louis, ascend to heaven!" 

After suffering decapitation, by the quick-descending guil- 
lotine, the body of Louis was conveyed, in a cart, to the parish 
church of St. Madelaine; the grave was filled with quick- 
lime, and a guard placed over it, until the corpse was con- 
sumed; and, that no mark might remain of the royal sufferer, 
over which the tear of loyalty might be shed, or the sigh of 
regret be uttered, for the prostration of an ancient throne, 
the ground was carefully levelled with the surrounding earth. 

Thus perished, at the age of thirty -nine, after a reign of 
eighteen years and three months, the most unfortunate of 
monarchs. Charles the first, of England, was the first king 
that had been tried and put to death, by his subjects; Louis 
the sixteenth, was the second. Louis was rather a lover of 
his subjects, than a tyrant. The revolution was an inherit- 
ance, bequeathed to him by his ancestors. He perished a 
victim to circumstances, which he was unable to control; to 
the passions of those about him, in which he did not parti- 
cipate, and to those of the multitude, which he had not 
excited. „ 

The widow of the decapitated monarch, was not allowed 
long to survive him. On the fifteenth of October, she was 
arraigned, before the revolutionary tribunal, and pronounced 
guilty of conspiring against the French republic; and, the 
next day suffered death, on the scaffold, in the thirty-ninth 
year of her age. 

In. the month of May, in the ensuing year, the blood of 
the princess Elizabeth was demanded; and, though not a 
single witness was produced against her, nor any charge 
made, by which she was, in the smallest degree, inculpated, 
she was sentenced to undergo the same tragical fate, as her 
brother and the queen. 

The dauphin, now in his eighth year, who had been pro- 
2 C 



302 HISTORY OF FRANCE. 

claimed, by his uncle, the count d'Artois, king of France, 
under the title of Louis XVII., was intrusted to the care of 
a shoemaker, named Simon, for the purpose of being taught 
his trade; and died, soon afterwards, in consequence of the 
cruel treatment he received, or, as some assert, by poison; 
his uncle, the count de Provence, assuming the regal dig- 
nity, as Louis XVIII. 

The dauphiness, the sole remaining child of Louis, still 
younger than her brother, was detained, for a considerable 
time, in the prison of the Concergerie; and at length per- 
mitted to leave her place of confinement and her country,* 
in exchange for La Fayette and his companions; who, on 
that condition, were delivered, by Austria, from the gloomy 
dungeons of Olmutz. 

* On the nineteenth of December, 1795. — This interesting princess 
was afterwards married to her cousin, the duke d'Angouleme eldest 
son of the count d'Artois; who, at the period of this history being 
written, is king of France, under the title of Charles X. 



FINIS. 



O 3 A continuation of this history has been written, in a separate 
and distinct volume ; entitled, " The Life of Napoleon, with the 
History of France, from the Death of Louis XVL to the year 1 821 ."_ 



Q 



